City Power Recovers R1.5 Million in High-Debt Crackdown Across Johannesburg

City Power, Johannesburg’s municipal power utility, successfully recovered a staggering R1.5 million from a single client during a recent cut-off operation in the Inner-City Service Delivery Centre (SDC). The operation, focused on high-debt defaulters, was carried out on Thursday across multiple locations, including Bellevue, Berea, Jeppestown, Houghton Estate, Yeoville, Parktown, and the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD).

The crackdown is part of City Power’s ongoing efforts to recover a significant portion of over R105 million in unpaid electricity bills, targeting both Large Power Users (LPUs) and residential properties. Isaac Mangena, a spokesperson for City Power, confirmed that the operation marked the second phase of this large-scale debt recovery initiative.

“During the operation, tensions flared in Parktown when two property managers attempted to block City Power officials and law enforcement from disconnecting the electricity supply at a high-debt property,” Mangena said.

The property, which owed over R5.2 million and had not made a payment since December 2018, was the focal point of the dispute. The property managers, who identified themselves as part of the management team, tried to present a court order from 2021 to stop the disconnection. However, the order had expired, and the utility proceeded with the disconnection.

This operation is part of City Power’s broader strategy to tackle widespread non-payment and ensure service delivery remains sustainable in Johannesburg. The utility has warned that similar operations will continue until outstanding debts are paid.