Power utility Eskom has suspended its Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) notice of potential power interruption against the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and City Power, which was issued on November 7.

This is to allow the independent expert hired to look into the issue of overbilling to submit a report to Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

Following the Minister's engagement with the city's mayor, and executives from the CoJ, City Power and Eskom on November 11, an agreement was reached that an independent expert would be appointed to undertake a process to look into the disputed alleged overbilling of about R3.4-billion by November 25.

This deadline was subsequently extended to December 6 for the report to be delivered to the Minister. 

The CoJ and City Power were expected to pay R1.4-billion for the September invoice, which was withheld in order for Eskom to suspend the PAJA notice.

Eskom reports that the CoJ and City Power have paid Eskom R1.3-billion, which is short of the agreed R1.4-billion.

Further, it says the October invoice of R1.3-billion that was due to be paid by November 29 remains unpaid.

Eskom says it will await the independent expert's report.