House is sold and they switch off electricity while we wait for amounts from the property attorneys

Why do they switch off electricity if property rates account is not paid up to date while the house is sold. My mother is waiting for the property attorneys to give her the amounts to pay the accounts or the attorneys will pay on her behalf and they will get their amounts when she receive the money from the house that is sold. You can switch someone off for R 8 000.00 but our neighbours that owe R 40 000.00 they do not get any legal action against them. The only way I know what is their amounts is because the post office is always putting their mail into our post box.