Are you a municipal account holder who has made arrangements with the Municipality to pay our arrears off in instalments but has since DEFAULTED on these arrangements?
OR
Are you a municipal account holder who has used and benefited from the Municipality’s Debt Relief Programme, but has since DEFAULTED on the monthly pay arrangements made in terms of the Programme?
If so, please be aware that the Municipality has introduced a measure to recover some or all of the default instalments, in concern over the fact that more than 50% of account-holders usually default within three months after making an arrangement to pay their arrears.
In terms of the new measure, which became effective on 23 July 2012, the next time you try to purchase prepaid electricity, the Municipality will deduct the money owed by you from this amount. For example, if you pay R200 towards prepaid electricity, and you owe the Municipality R3000 in arrears on your municipal accounts for water, sewerage, etc., the full R200 you paid towards electricity will be used to reduce the amount you owe on your municipal account, and you will receive NO electricity. Only when you have paid the full amount of the arrears you have defaulted on will you be allowed to purchase electricity again.
This measure is fully in line with the Municipality’s Revenue Management and Customer Care By-laws, as well as its Credit Control Policy, which Council approved on 31 March 2011.
Account holders affected by this measure should remember that it is normal municipal policy to disconnect/block electricity for arrears owing by a customer and to permit reconnection only once all arrears have been paid or once suitable repayment arrangements have been concluded.
Please ensure that you are not left without electricity! The Municipality appeals to you to honour previous arrangements you made with it to pay your arrears off in instalments or the arrangements made in terms of the Debt Relief Programme.
