By Everson Luhanga
- City Power teams cut electricity in several Johannesburg suburbs, with one student housing facility in Richmond owing R1.7 million disconnected on the spot.
- A media company in Albertville cleared R250,000 immediately towards its R1.5 million debt and agreed to a payment plan to keep the lights on.
City Power’s Hursthill Service Delivery Centre is stepping up its fight against debt. The utility is chasing R1.6 billion owed in unpaid electricity bills. On Friday, 12 September 2025, it ran another major disconnection operation with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and private security.
This time, the focus was on defaulting customers in Albertville, Amalgam, Richmond and Industria. The four targeted properties together owed about R4 million.
In Richmond, disconnection teams cut off a student housing facility that had ignored arrears of R1.7 million. The teams also removed fuses to stop illegal reconnections and monitored the area.
Three of the four businesses visited quickly acted to avoid losing electricity. A shopping centre in Amalgam settled its R260,000 bill on the spot when the team arrived. A construction company in Industria paid its R130,000 debt immediately to avoid disruption.
In Albertville, a media company owing R1.5 million handed over R250,000 straight away and agreed to a structured payment plan for the balance.
Sandra More, Acting Accounts Manager at Hursthill, said she welcomed the fast action from customers. She encouraged others to come forward before facing disconnections.
“We are encouraged by the prompt response from our customers today,” More said. “Settling accounts on time not only avoids disruptions but also ensures the smooth and uninterrupted delivery of electricity services.”
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the operation showed non-payers that electricity is not free. “Those in arrears must settle or face disconnection,” he warned.
Pictured above: City Power technicians during a disconnection operation
Image source: City Power
