CITY CANCELS R1 500 ELECTRICITY CABLE RECONNECTION FEE FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS

The City of Ekurhuleni has cancelled the R1 500 (Excluding VAT) electricity reconnection fee for stolen residential service connection cables, thus easing the financial burden on residents.

The city will now provide free replacement of stolen service connections to customers excluding businesses. Replacement of a stolen service connection cable on business customers will be done on a quotation basis.

For customers to qualify for the above, a stolen service connection cable must be reported at the relevant Energy Department depot accompanied by a reference number from the call centre, including a police statement and case number to ensure that the theft has been reported.

The customer’s municipal account must not be in arrears. In the case of a municipal account being in arrears, the customer will be required to settle the arrear amount or provide proof of arrangements made with the Finance Department before a job card is created.

In the case of prepaid meters, electricity purchases records will be checked, and cable replacement will not be done for a bypassed prepaid meter until the back-billing report has been compiled, and the customer has paid the prescribed fees and tariffs relating to the bypassed meter.

Apart from the possible fees for an account in arrears or a possible meter tampering, there is zero charge for the replacement of the stolen service connection cable to the customer.

Stolen service connection will be replaced to the point of supply as determined by the city. Where it is required to remove paving or disturb landscaping installed by the owner of the premises, to install the new service connection cable, the owner will be responsible for the reinstatement of said paving and landscaping.

The municipality shall not be liable for any loss or damage, direct or consequential whatsoever and inclusive of, but not limited to, loss of production, loss of profit and damage to equipment/structure or infrastructure because of the requirement to enter the premises of a customer for purposes of replacing a stolen service connection cable.

An affidavit exonerating the municipality from liability should be obtained from the customer prior to any work in relation to the replacement being carried out.

The Council approved policy came into effect on 1 July 2025.