Several residents lashed out at City of Johannesburg (CoJ) on social media platforms stating they have had endless problems since the installation of the “smart meters”.
Ms Sandy Reynolds, a Kensington resident, told the EXPRESS the reading on her bill is inflated and although she tried to resolve the problem, she received a disconnection notice.
She said she provided officials with the reading via e-mail, visited their offices to resolve the matter and provided photographs as proof. “A woman did correct the reading but council just reversed the correction,” she said.
An official did read her meter last week and gathered that the reading on Ms Reynolds’ account was incorrect. “My meter reading was 1491. On my last account they had 5711. Where did they get this from?” she questioned.
Although the official was at the house to conduct an audit, Ms Reynolds received a disconnection notice on the same day.
She said when she contacted the relevant department she was told she had 14 days to pay. “Apparently this ‘disconnection department’ is an independent company. CoJ out-sources this and they make money with each disconnection they make. I went to the offices in Rosettenville to give them my information. I was shouted at but told they would sort it out. I refuse to pay what I do not owe,” said Ms Reynolds.
Ms Reynolds said she also questioned the official who visited her about why the automated meter needed to be read. She was apparently told the meters are not connected to the accounts. “I pay my account every month. I had no problems before, but since the installation of this meter it has been frustrating trying to resolve the problem,” said Ms Reynolds.
Mr Chris Bradnum, also a Kensington resident, said he and his wife live in a small house and follow the concept of ‘greening’ their home, as they are concerned about the environment.
“CoJ installed the AMR meter in our house on March 13. These are called ‘smart readers’, one of the ultimate oxymorons. This meter was intended to reduce the billing issues that have plagued ratepayers in Johannesburg as the council could read them remotely.
“We did not receive our bill in July and continued to pay our estimated amount of about R1 500 for electricity per month. In August, we received the July and August bill on the same day as a pre-termination notice, which was stuck to our wall. We suddenly owed R15 000 for our electricity – as estimated by the council,” said Mr Bradnum.
Instead of 3 500 units, council recorded a consumption of 13 500 units. The couple photographed the meter and opened a query with CoJ on August 22.
A few days later, the couple received a second pre-termination notice.
“We pay our rates and taxes like responsible citizens and are threatened because the council’s imposed systems are a failure. If the council was as effective as the subsection that insists on putting up pre-termination notices, we would probably have the correct billing. Even though we are clearly in the right, the council’s threatening tone is quite distressing. As a household, our options are limited. We can take days off work and sit in the CoJ offices with little effect. We can e-mail our concerns with the facts to the CoJ with no response. We can talk to the CoJ helpline, after waiting half an hour for someone to answer, and receive an indication that some action is taking place and still receive a threat from the council, or we can try to sue the council,” said Mr Bradnum.
Frustrated residents on social media platforms are discussing the possibility of putting together a class action suit against the council.
Earlier this year, Mr Hloni Motloung, the media relations consultant for City Power, said the meters contributed to accurate billing.
He said AMR reports the exact amount of electricity used during a particular period, without requiring visits to properties by City Power technicians.
Mr Hloni also said consumption is monitored in real time and estimated readings will not be required.
Mr Kgamanyane Maphologela, from the city’s revenue department, forwarded a response to the EXPRESS stating that both the accounts had been rectified. He did not provide any further comment.
Mr Sol Masolo, from City Power said he would forward a response. At the time of going to print, none had been received.
