Eskom says it is prepared to begin implementing selective power interruptions in Johannesburg should the City of Johannesburg fail to pay its outstanding electricity account.

The power utility’s Acting Group Executive for Distribution, Agnes Mlambo, said the decision was not taken lightly but had become necessary because of continued non-payment by the metro.

According to Eskom, the city currently owes R5.2 billion. The amount includes overdue payments on its current account, which has remained unpaid for more than a month, as well as arrears linked to a payment agreement concluded in November 2024. Eskom said the municipality defaulted on that arrangement, resulting in the entire balance becoming immediately payable.

Mlambo said Eskom is technically equipped to carry out the planned interruptions and stressed that the utility would not disconnect electricity to the whole city at once. Instead, supply cuts would be introduced gradually in selected areas and during specific periods, depending on whether payments are made.

She added that Eskom would continue pursuing legal avenues to recover the money owed and noted that the utility already has a court order in place.

Mlambo said Eskom remains open to discussions with the municipality and would support any intervention led by the Minister of Electricity. However, she warned that the debt — which she said represents roughly three months of electricity consumption — could continue to grow if left unresolved.

Explaining the rationale behind the proposed approach, Mlambo said phased disconnections are intended to pressure the city to settle its account while reducing the impact on residents who are already paying the municipality for electricity services.

She also confirmed that Eskom is considering attaching municipal bank accounts as part of its debt recovery efforts. Other measures are also being explored, although she cautioned that such actions could have wider consequences, including affecting employee salaries and payments to suppliers. She said cooperation from both the City of Johannesburg and City Power would therefore be important.

Eskom has previously used similar power interruption measures in other municipalities, including in parts of the North West province. If implemented in Johannesburg, it would be the first time the utility has taken this type of action against a metropolitan municipality.

The warning comes ahead of Johannesburg Mayor’s upcoming State of the City address, with Eskom insisting it cannot continue supplying electricity indefinitely without receiving payment for services already rendered.

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