The Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) has deployed inspectors to audit electricity meters in residents’ homes. They need to check their effectiveness, make sure they’ve not been tampered with, and are working properly.
Larry Steyn, acting RWCLM municipal manager urged residents in a letter to cooperate. “The community is hereby requested to assist the municipality by welcoming our electricity meter inspectors into their homes to inspect the effectiveness of the meters. The aim of this inspection is to ensure that the pre-paid/ conventional meters are operating properly.”
In the same letter, Steyn explained that the inspection is being done throughout the jurisdiction of the RWCLM.
“However, in some areas access would not be obtained during normal working hours; therefore, visits will be done after hours up until 20:00, including weekends.”
He advised residents to request the following from the inspectors: Appointment letter from the municipality; and ID card bearing the photo of the inspector, the RWCLM emblem, and the inspector’s personal ID.
He also warned that those who are found to have interfered or tampered with electricity meters will be penalised, adding that penalties would be levied against municipal accounts, which will have to be paid before electricity is reconnected.
The RWCLM will impose the following fines:
• Meter replacement costs:
Single-phase: R4 373,97
Three-phase: R7 552,18
• KHW recovery at minimum of 1 000kWh per month for six months:
Single-phase: R15 183
Three-phase: R45 5490
• Reconnection fee:
First offence: R7 524,81
Second offence: R12 980,29
“For any business found to have interfered or tampered with their meter, the fees will be calculated and submitted for payment. The owner of the property must then also obtain a Certificate of Compliance on the electrical installation, and must be signed off by the Municipal Electrical Inspector before services would be reconnected,” Steyn said.
