City Power warns it will go after more defaulting Joburg businesses

JOHANNESBURG - City Power has warned that it will be going after more businesses in Johannesburg that it said are illegally connected to the city’s power grid.

After conducting investigations, City Power said it found several repeat offenders, including businesses disconnected in November.

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The power utility is grappling with runaway debt from businesses that are owing and those who are benefitting from the power without paying.

City Power said the Hursthill substation alone is owed R1.6 billion by defaulting businesses.

The power station supplies electricity to Auckland Park, Melville, Westdene, Coronationville, and surrounding areas.

In the Industria and Crown area, it was found that there are repeat offenders owing R23 million.

The utility said it will be conducting stricter and more regular disconnection operations with the help of law enforcement to add to the weekly disconnection operations already underway to try to recover the lost funds.