Energy

FREQUENT POWER OUTAGES IN SLOVO PARK ARE CAUSED BY ILLEGAL CONNECTIONS AND METER BYPASS

By Thulasizwe City of Ekurhuleni 3080

The City of Ekurhuleni will restore power supply to Slovo Park gradually while removing illegal connections. Those whose accounts are blocked from loading electricity due to debt will have to regularise their accounts by paying, entering into payment arrangements or through the city’s debt rehabilitation before their supply is restored.

The intermittent power supply in Slovo Park is caused by illegal connections, meter bypasses and ghost vendors. These cause grid overload and burning of transformers among other damages to the power supply network.

The city’s audit revealed only 42 customers out of 792 regularly buy electricity, while 230 customers’ accounts are blocked due to non-payment of other municipal services.

Households that are struggling to pay for electricity or other municipal services may benefit from the city’s indigent support after meeting qualifying criteria.

Indigent support is provided to households with a combined income of less than two (2) monthly minimum wage of a domestic worker as determined by Department of Employment and Labour.

The benefits provided to indigents, including child-headed and youth-headed households include the following:

  • Rates rebate;
  • 6kl of free basic water and sanitation services per month;
  • 50kWh electricity per month; and
  • Free refuse removal.

For further information or assistance with the application process, qualifying households are encouraged to visit the indigent offices at their nearest customer care centre or visit the city’s website on www.ekurhuleni.gov.za