LEKWA EMBARKS ON CREDIT CONTROL OPERATION

Posted: 11 June 2024

Lekwa Local Municipality has embarked on a credit control operation that includes cutting illegal electricity connections and bridged meters. The operation was implemented on the 10th of June 2024 at Extension 6, Sakhile township in Standerton.

Meter bridging and illegal electricity connections often compromise service quality, electrical infrastructure overload, and ultimate damage to the infrastructure. The operation is part of revenue enhancement and credit control measures aimed at ensuring that communities are paying for electricity services rendered by the municipality.

Tempering with electricity infrastructure and illegal connections lead to the municipality exceeding maximum electricity supply demand and therefore the need to implement load reduction.

"Once we exceed the maximum electricity demand, Eskom penalises the municipality financially, and yet we are not receiving any money for electricity usage," said the Executive Mayor, Cllr. Delani Thabethe who was leading the team. He added that overloading due to illegal connections also led to transformers exploding, subjecting the entire community to darkness.

Illegal electricity connections and tempering with electricity infrastructure also pose a serious safety hazard that can lead to loss of life in the surrounding community.
Residents who are found to have bridged their meters and/or have illegal connections are cut off from the electricity supply and are fined a reconnection fee and an additional fee when the meter is damaged.

The municipality encourages all residents to refrain from tampering with its electricity infrastructure. Tampering not only poses serious safety risks but also disrupts the community's access to reliable electricity.

The municipality also encourages residents with long outstanding debt to come forward and make settlement arrangements. Take advantage of the 50/50 debt incentive recently approved by the council. This initiative offers a valuable opportunity to settle your debts with the municipality under favorable terms. Pensioners and unemployed are also encouraged to fill in the indigent registration form so that they can have their outstanding debt 100% written off.