Residents upset about their electricity bills
Many Tzaneen residents are up in arms about their electricity bills, either they are overcharged or their meters are not working.
One resident, Melanie McIntosh, based in Magoebaskloof, says the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) had over-billed her with about R150 000 in just two months.
She supplied the Herald with her recent statements in which she was billed R75 442.77 on 25 February and R76 517.55 on March 25.
She told the Herald that because they operate a 11-bedroom guesthouse, her electricity bill is normally between R6 000 and R16 000 per month.
“My monthly electricity bill has never been R75 000, so even if they were ‘guestimating’, where on earth did they get that amount to guestimate with?
“I now owe over R150 000 in only two months,” she said.
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McIntosh initially approached GTM’s accounts department where she was told that there was nothing that could be done as they bill according to what the reading states.
Fortunately enough, after Herald’s intervention, she was credited back the R150 000 she ‘owed’.
However, she still awaits for the municipality to repair her meter as the problem will continue if the meter is not fixed.
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Although she got her account sorted out, it is not the case for other unfortunate customers.
Residents took to the Tzaneen/Duiwelskoof Snuffelgids Facebook page to complain about their accounts after McIntosh posted her problem. Kathy Pienaar of Pompagalana posted that her bill is twice the amount it normally is.
She said every month she has to ‘fight’ to get her bill sorted out.
Riana le Grange said her problems only came to an end when she converted to prepaid electricity.
GTM spokesman, Neville Ndlala, advised residents struggling with the same challenges to visit the finance department at the the municipal offices where they will be assisted.
“If your meter reading and the statement you receive don’t match, please approach your nearest revenue office.
“If you are in Nkowankowa, visit the Nkowankowa office and if you are in town, visit the GTM building in Agatha Street for assistance,” he concluded.
