Community members in Mogale City were shocked when they received their June electricity and/ or water accounts. The amounts were much higher than previous months.

Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) responded by saying that meter readings could not be taken during April and May due to Covid-19 lockdown regulations, and that the readings were estimated based on previous months’ usage.

But as April and May are colder months, customers were undercharged and the first readings could only be taken again in June.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mogale City responded to the unusually high bills.

In a statement from DA caucus leader, Jacques Hoon, he said; “While the DA understands that the current lockdown situation poses unique challenges, we cannot have inconsistent application of regulations, especially with regards to metering and service delivery activities. Why were meters not read when the Government Gazette No. 510 of 07th May 2020, regulation 6.7.4(d) directed municipalities to operate revenue-generating services, including meter reading?”

He went on to say that due to the under-estimation of consumption during April and May, the June accounts were inflated for many households which already find themselves in a position where they have to choose between electricity and food.

The extended reading cycle has also resulted in consumption spiking into another tariff bracket.

“This would not have been the case had the meter reading been done correctly. Residents are again forced to pay the extra step-up tariff due to the municipality’s incompetence,” said Hoon.

He said the DA is calling on the Municipal Manager to implement the special provisions in section 6.14.2.1 of the Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy, with regards to determining the initial down payment on arrears to assist residents to pay their accounts during these uncertain times.

The municipality must be mindful of the fact that the residents are facing financial constraints due to the lockdown regulations,” he said.

Hoon added that while the DA feels that the municipality has an obligation to furnish clients with consistently correct and verifiable billing, they also believe that the residents have an obligation to uphold their financial duties, and honour their accounts to the best of their abilities.

“The DA therefore calls on the Municipal Manager to fully capacitate Mogale’s finance department in order to assist the residents with account queries and payment arrangements during this time of crisis,” said Hoon.