Please may I request an investigation into possible meter tampering in Randhart, Alberton.
I have been residing in Alberton for 16 years now and for the past few years I have had some significant escalations to my account periodically.
I have always queried these but have not received any joy in terms of the possible reasons for this and have needed to make arrangements to cover the excessive amounts.
In the 2016/2017 financial year I have paid over R130 000 in electricity bills. In the past few months I have had an escalation of electricity bill in the region of R2 000 per month every month.
At the end of October I am expected to pay R10 000, which is exorbitant to say the least. The sudden spikes in my accounts in the past few months are concerning.
I have recently received your newsletter and have been made aware of the issue of meter tampering. I am also aware currently of a few households in the area and several in the surrounding areas that have been on prepaid. These residences have had some challenges with the prepaid meters and the municipality has reconnected them to the main grid. The residents, however, are not currently paying for the reconnected electricity and have not been doing so for several months.
They have also been requesting when they will be able to have finality on their damaged prepaid meters, with little success.
My query then is, which households are covering their bills?
V Moodley
RECORD contacted the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality for comment. Themba Gadebe, City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson, had this to say:
“A team of technicians will be sent out to inspect the metering installation to identify any possible illegal connections.
“The customer may request to have a meter tested. The cost of testing the accuracy of a meter for the 2017/18 financial year as per approved and published electricity tariffs is R550, VAT exclusive.
“The above amount will be refunded to the customer if the accuracy of the meter proves to be out of the specified limits.
“Requests for a meter test should be made through the Customer Advisors at the Swartkoppies offices of the Energy Department in Alberton.
“Please note that the R10 000 to be paid in October is for the total municipal bill and is not limited to electricity charges only as indicated by the resident.
“The average consumption to date for 2017 is less than the consumption of 2016.
“The historical consumption pattern of the recorded meter readings shows that the electricity consumption is higher during winter months. This is a common phenomenon that most residential users of electricity will observe.
“The demand for electricity is higher and the annual increase in tariffs for electricity also started in July. The combined effect of demand and increase may appear as a ‘spike’ on the consumer’s account.
“The City of Ekurhuleni welcomes information that the resident may have regarding the bypassed prepaid meters as indicated in his enquiry.”
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