State-owned power utility Eskom has announced that it is currently reviewing the representations received from residents and other affected stakeholders following a notice issued in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) regarding its intention to interrupt the electricity supply to the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and State-owned power utility City Power.

Eskom highlights that the PAJA process was initiated on May 17 after the CoJ and City Power accumulated overdue electricity debt amounting to R5.2-billion. Since then, Eskom notes that the city has made payments totalling R4.3-billion; however, as of July 24, the overdue balance remains R3.8-billion.

A current electricity account of R2.6-billion is due on August 3 and Eskom says the CoJ has committed to making payments totalling R5.1-billion by August 21.

Meanwhile, Eskom highlights that the PAJA consultation process remains ongoing and has been extended to August 22 to allow it to complete the assessment of the representations received and to monitor the CoJ’s compliance with its electricity account obligations and the payment obligations it has made.

To ensure the sustainability of South Africa’s electricity supply is maintained, the utility says the CoJ and City Power remain obligated to honour the court order settlement arrangement and to pay all current electricity accounts by their due dates.