EMM could compensate resident

“The meter is to be removed within the next week,” said EMM spokesperson Themba Gadebe on Monday, February 22.

Bertie Liebenberg paid for his meter to be removed on November 16, following an unusually high utility (lights and water) bill of R9 980 in September.

“I was told that it could take anything between six to eight weeks to have the meter removed,” he said.

However, by the end of December, the meter was still not removed and his total utility bill then stood at R10 697.

Gadebe explained that the meter was not removed in 2015 because the proof of payment was only received in February.

“The proof of payment was sent to the responsible department earlier this month, and has been to the water meter contractor to assist with the removal,” he said.

Gadebe also said that the EMM will compensate for Liebenberg’s expenses if the meter proves faulty.

“The consumer can also get information from the EMM’s water supply by-laws on the Ekurhuleni website.”

The by-laws stipulate that if a meter is found to be defective, the council will refund the consumer, repair or install another meter and charge the consumer the cost of their average water bill.

Liebenberg said he hopes that the meter will be removed and tested at the allocated time that the municipality has indicated.

“I emailed the municipality again on February 15 about the water bill, but I received no response from them,” Liebenberg said.

However, Gadebe said that the municipality already explained the full procedure of the water bill last year.

“The processes were explained to the consumer at the end of last year and an official did communicate with the consumer at the beginning of February.

“The consumer will be updated with feedback again.”