Video: City Power disconnects eight businesses in Kya Sand

City Power’s Revenue Collection Drive has gathered momentum after eight businesses recently had their power disconnected due to outstanding payments.

The operation’s primary objective is to recover essential revenue from defaulting customers, while encouraging others to uphold their account payments.

During the operation, City Power officials visited 10 businesses in Kya Sand Business Park, and disconnected eight of these.

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These eight businesses were all issued with disconnection notices/ cards prior to being cut from the grid.

TARGETED BUSINESSES OWE CITY POWER R6 MILLION

Spokesperson for City Power Isaac Mangena says the Drive’s targeted businesses collectively owe City Power approximately R6 million across Randburg.

“That is the money we are going after today… we are looking at recovering most of the debt owed to the Randburg Service Delivery Centre,” Mangena told the Randburg Sun.

Mangena noted that Kya Sand is an industrial area, where most of the large power consumers are based. According to City Power, these major power users owe the entity R40 million.

“These are the same businesses that have been complaining about the power supply in the area while not paying for some of the services,” he added.

“We will be engaging with the businesses to ensure that the level of payment increases and they do what is right.”

Among the businesses disconnected for defaulting on payments were 8 Mile Investment, Salome Mashiane Enterprises, Trail Technologies, and Pipeline Cons Plant Hire.

These customers are said to collectively owe City Power more than R2 million of revenue.

VANDALISM AND THEFT BLAMED FOR OUTAGES

Moreover, Kya Sand has grappled with frequent power outages due to theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure, Mangena says.

As a result, some frustrated customers have threatened to stop paying rates.

In response, City Power is undertaking a hybrid network project that combines overhead lines and underground cables to mitigate these outages.

The entity is aiming for long-term relief for power users in the area.

Mangena urged defaulting customers in Kya Sand and surrounds to fulfill their payment obligations, in order to assist City Power with their service delivery obligations.

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