Anonymous writes:
I cannot be the only one getting interim readings from the municipality.
When I get my bill, the meter readings are not recorded on there.
Two meter readers came to my house earlier in the lockdown, but I did not allow them onto my property. They had no ID, no uniform, no book to record, and when I acquired from the relevant authority about them, I was informed that these were not their meter readers and people posing as meter readers to gain access to people’s properties to steal.
Then I get told by the company that administers the meter readings that they can’t accept my readings and photo as their meter readers have a camera that records the date and time of the photo.
I cannot leave my property open when I am at work and I have outdoor sensors, an alarm and I am linked to CMS.
This is a very big security risk and one that I am not willing to take. And I am sure that everyone else in this position will agree.
I have never had this problem with the last meter readers and my account was correct every month.
If I want to lie about my readings, I would have done so a long time ago. I have nothing to gain from lying and secondly I pay my account on time every month.
Why do you not concentrate on the people who are stealing electricity? And let us not mention prepaid meters that are getting tampered with.
Editors note:
Ekurhuleni’s response:
The metro will be responding in bullet format to each matter identified.
As we do not have the resident’s account number, the responses will be based on normal operating procedures informed by the EMM Electricity By-Law.
• Interims
As I could not access your account, I could not confirm the reasons why your submitted readings were not billed.
However, we do bill interims or estimates on accounts where no readings have not been obtained as per point 4 of the by-law that states, “If for any reason a meter cannot be read, the Council may render an estimated account.
The energy consumption shall be adjusted in a subsequent account under the actual energy consumption”.
• Meter readers wanting to confirm readings.
Meter reading companies have the prerogative to confirm any submitted consumer reading every third month.
Where no readings can be obtained point seven of the by-law states that “n the event of the Council not being able to gain access to a meter for two consecutive meter readings the Council may forthwith discontinue the supply of electricity concerning the premises to which that meter relates”.
It is with this that all meter readers are required to have and produce formal identification that can be verifiable.
It is a requirement that not only should they produce identification cards but also travel in company-branded cars with the specific company telephone numbers as well.
As I could not confirm your place of residence, please see both our appointed meter reading companies’ details and information for future verification processes or submission of readings.
• Everyday accountants
Tel: 010 448 4386
WhatsApp: 083 733 6627
Email: benonimrc@everydayap.co.za
admin@everydayap.co.za
• Lebhos Construction
Tel/WhatsApp: 073 681 4524
Email: readings@globeng.co.za
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