Why Joburg property owners will now pay for their own power cables

If you live or run a business in Johannesburg, there’s a new line you need to know about and it’s not on your monthly bill.

It’s the cable running from your electricity meter into your property. And from now on, that line is your responsibility.

City Power has made it clear: its obligation ends at the metering point. Anything beyond that, including replacing stolen or vandalised cables falls squarely on the property owner.

For many residents, that announcement landed with a mix of frustration and weary acceptance.

The line in the sand: where City Power steps back

According to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, the utility will no longer replace or install service cables that connect homes and businesses to its network.

If that cable is damaged or stolen, residents must buy a new one themselves. And not just any cable.

Homeowners are required to consult City Power first for the correct technical specifications including the approved type and size before making a purchase. Installation must be done by a qualified and accredited electrician. Anything less won’t be connected.

It’s a strict approach, but one the utility says is necessary.

A city battling cable theft and illegal connections

Johannesburg has been fighting an uphill battle against cable theft, infrastructure vandalism and illegal electricity connections for years. Entire communities have experienced prolonged outages after mini-substations or transformers were damaged.

In some neighbourhood WhatsApp groups this week, residents described the policy as “another cost residents can’t afford.” Others argued that holding paying customers responsible feels unfair when theft and illegal connections are often beyond their control.

But City Power says the crackdown is about sustainability.

The utility has introduced a new rule: after replacing key infrastructure like mini-substations or transformers, power will only be restored if at least 80% of customers in that area can prove they are legitimately purchasing electricity.

The 80% rule that could delay your lights coming back on

This is where things get even more serious.

Before restoring supply in affected areas, City Power teams will conduct door-to-door audits. Officials will check electricity purchasing histories, vending records and proof of consistent payments.

A once-off R50 purchase from weeks ago won’t count.

The utility says it is looking for regular, reasonable monthly purchases evidence that households are actively buying electricity and not bypassing meters.

If fewer than 80% of customers can demonstrate legitimate buying patterns, electricity won’t be switched back on.

For law-abiding residents, that could mean being left in the dark because of neighbours who are not compliant.

The bigger picture: financial pressure and accountability

This move reflects deeper financial and infrastructure strain within Johannesburg’s electricity system. Illegal connections and meter tampering don’t just reduce revenue they overload networks, damage transformers and contribute to repeated outages.

In communities already grappling with load shedding and rising living costs, the tension is palpable. Social media reactions range from calls for tougher enforcement against cable thieves to criticism that residents are being made to shoulder municipal failures.

Yet City Power’s message is clear: compliance is no longer optional, and infrastructure losses can no longer be absorbed quietly.

What residents should do now

If you experience cable theft or damage:

• Contact City Power first for approved technical specifications

• Purchase the correct cable type and size

• Use a qualified, accredited electrician for installation

• Request safe isolation and reconnection once installation is complete

Skipping any of these steps could delay reconnection.

A shift in responsibility and reality

For many Joburgers, electricity is already a fragile guarantee. This policy marks another shift in how responsibility is shared between the city and its residents.

In simple terms: the meter is where City Power stops. From there to your front door, the wire and the cost, is yours.

Whether this approach will curb illegal connections or deepen frustration among paying customers remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: in Johannesburg’s power struggle, the rules have changed.

{Source: The Citizen}

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