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Johannesburg - Eskom said on Friday it had postponed plans to interrupt power supplies at two municipalities in the Free State province that still owe it money, pending the outcome of a legal process.
"Of the top 20 municipalities in arrears, 18 have responded to Eskom’s request for payment by putting payment plans in place. Two municipalities are in a legal process due to non-payment and their matters will be dealt with within the confines of that process," Eskom said in a statement.
The cash-strapped utility has not specified which municipalities had not yet paid their dues. Eskom had said in April it would cut power to the top 20 defaulting municipalities from June 5.
The top 20 defaulting municipalities make up 90% of the outstanding municipal debt to Eskom.
"It is with this in mind that Eskom is announcing the start of interruption of bulk power supply to municipalities who are in arrears and those who have agreed payment plans with Eskom but have now defaulted on these payment plans.
"Communities within municipal areas targeted for interruption will be provided 48 hours’ notice in their local media. Any municipalities who are currently honouring their payment plans but who default in future will immediately be given 48 hours’ notice and be interrupted," Eskom said.
On May 29 Eskom announced that only three municipalities had not settled their debt.
In a Tweet the supplier said “some of the defaulting municipalities have paid part of their debt to Eskom and made arrangements to settle the balance going forward”.
READ: Municipalities hear Eskom's threat and pay up
