Power utility Eskom has confirmed that it will proceed with the interruption of bulk electricity supply to the Mamusa local municipality, in the North West, from May 8, after the municipality failed to reach an agreement with the State-owned entity to settle its outstanding debt.

The utility in March notified 14 municipalities across the country of its intention to interrupt bulk electricity supply for several hours a day owing to the debt owed to Eskom by the municipalities for more than 18 months.

Eskom earlier this week confirmed that nine of the 14 municipalities had received council resolutions to sign Distribution Agency Agreements, which would result in Eskom partnering with the municipalities, for a defined period, to provide expertise and skills transfer in areas such as billing, maintenance of electricity infrastructure and debt collection strategies. 

The utility also recently concluded a payment arrangement with the City of Ekurhuleni, in Gauteng, which resulted in the withdrawal of Eskom’s intention to interrupt supply to that municipality.

Eskom reported on May 7 that the Dr Beyers Naude local municipality, in the Eastern Cape, had filed an urgent court application requesting the court order the suspension of the impending interruption in bulk electricity supply. The application will be heard on May 14.

"To respect the court process, Eskom will suspend interruption of supply until the matter is heard and direction is given by the court," it stated.

Further, the Kai !Garib local municipality, in the Northern Cape, has since sent a letter to Eskom requesting the suspension of the interruption of electricity while the municipality prepares an urgent court application, which will be issued on May 11. Eskom has agreed to suspend interruption on the basis of the proposed court application.

"Any failure by the municipality to issue the court application will result in Eskom proceeding with the interruption of bulk supply at short notice," the utility warned.

Eskom pointed out that the interruption of supply to the Mamusa local municipality will affect the areas of the Migdol and Schweizer Reneke villages. Interruptions will occur daily from 06:30 to 10:30, from 16:30 to 20:30 and again from 00:30 to 04:30.