The Fitzgerald’s fight with City Power concerning their billing problems is not recent.
“It started four and a half years ago,” Colin Fitzgerald said on 25 July.
“Something went wrong with our meter (which is out in the street) and City Power started estimating our bills. We were always in credit and our monthly bill is about R500 a month. I’m an old hippy. We hardly use electricity.”
The estimated bills, Fitzgerald said, were slightly over the real amount, but he paid uncomplainingly. A new smart meter was then installed.
“Suddenly our bill, which was for 300 units, was charged for 3 000 units. And ever since then, our bill has escalated. This is the biggest hassle of my life. It’s caused years of stress.””
He said that the estimates on the bill never match the estimates on the meter. “Our meter reading is about 17 000 units (over the years.) The bill says it’s 40 000 units.”
Fitzgerald went to the City Power offices in Braamfontein, but he claims that they refused to look at his documentation.
He said that he doesn’t receive his bills anymore. “But last time I checked, our bill was around R40 000, because of years of overcharging. And I’ve been religiously paying my R500 monthly bill. That’s what we owe.”
