This, as Eskom has issued load reduction notices to four provinces - including the Free State. The power utility says they will implement load reduction to this district during morning peak hours in efforts to avoid overloading its network and causing damage to its infrastructure. 

The notices issued to the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Limpopo come just days after the power utility called on municipalities to pay for its services - stating that the R31.5 billion owed to it as at the end of August severely affects its operation.

The state-owned enterprise has raised concerns over municipal escalating debts and appealed to municipalities to settle their debts.

OFM News last month reported on how the power utility attached the bank accounts of Matjhabeng Local Municipality in efforts to recoup over R3.4 billion owed by the municipality as well as that of Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality in efforts to recover over R5.4 billion owed to them.

Whilst Matjhabeng has put up 139 of its farms as security for its R3.4 billion debt to Eskom for services rendered, the matter between Maluti-A-Phofung and Eskom is still the subject of the courts as Eskom has filed an application to appeal the Free State High Court ruling, which saw the utility’s attachment of the municipality's bank accounts lifted.

Free State municipalities collectively owe the power utility over R12 billion, making it the province with the highest debt and one with the highest number of defaulting municipalities.

OFM News