The Tshwane metro is assessing the future of electricity smart meters.
Consultations are ongoing between affected departments and its legal team to decide what will happen with the implementation of the meter system following a recent court decision.
The North Gauteng High Court recently ruled the agreement between the city and Peu company constitutionally invalid, and overturned every aspect of the smart meter roll-out and implementation.
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The city has been given 14 days to decide whether it wants to keep the smart meter infrastructure or not and make a submission of what a just and equitable remedy would entail.
“It is a widely known fact that the smart meters contract offered little value for money to electricity consumers or the city, and that it placed a massive financial strain on the city’s revenue stream,” the metro said in a statement.
“We have contingency plans in place, depending on our submission and the court’s subsequent decision. We have to consider the impact of the decision.”
The city has established an internal task team of stakeholder departments to identify risks and opportunities, which will guide and inform its submission to the high court.
“Whichever way the city’s decision goes, it will be made to minimise the impact on the 13 000 consumers who already have the smart meters to ensure that any transitionary arrangements are made with zero interruption, and to safeguard the city’s revenue stream,” said the statement.
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The R950 million contract which started in 2013, according to MMC for corporate and shared services Cilliers Brink, was the biggest irregularity the DA had inherited from the previous administration.
Brink said his party was against the contract from the outset saying it would punch a hole in the city’s coffers.
“When legal action threatened to expose the rigged tender, the previous administration concluded a sham ‘termination agreement’ to allow the service provider a quick getaway,” said Brink.
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