Tshwane ditches estimate meter readings, back to actual readings
For years residents have been complaining about exorbitant bills that did not match meter readings.
The Tshwane metro has decided to do away with estimate meter readings and resort to doing actual monthly readings.
For years residents have been complaining about exorbitant bills that did not match meter readings.
Previously the metro insisted there was nothing wrong with the billing system and that they had no billing crisis.
In August last year, the metro’s billing system came into question when public protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, ordered it to write off a resident’s R250 000 water bill.
Months later, the council resolved to investigate why residents’ bills had skyrocketed with debtor levels rising from R12,6-billion in March to R17,4-billion at the end of October 2020. As a result, the metro has called on its residents to grant access to officials for actual meter readings that will take place on a monthly basis.
Spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the metro had stepped up its efforts to ensure the accuracy of municipal service bills and this requires actual meter readings.
“There were some gaps in the system and we are trying to improve on those,” Bokaba said.
“Tshwane is making an impassioned appeal to its residents to grant meter reading officials with identity cards access to their properties for meter readings and inspections.”
Bokaba said during harder levels of the Covid-19 national lockdown, the metro also had capacity issues relating to the availability of staff members to conduct readings.
Those have since been resolved.
He said according to the law, the metro was allowed to estimate residents bills at least three times, but this would be a thing of the past and urged residents to cooperate.
“Section 101 of the local government: municipal systems, 2000 (act 32 of 2000) states that the occupier of a property in a municipality must give an authorised representative of the municipality or of a service provider access at all reasonable hours to the premises in order to read, inspect, install or repair any meter or service.
“This is also in line with the electricity and water by-laws.”
He said estimation adjustments were determined by the City’s credit control and debt collection policy, which stated that all meters would be read monthly.
“But should any meter be inaccessible or unreadable for whatever reason, the consumption in respect of that month will be determined in accordance with the stipulation of the municipality’s by-laws for the supply of water and electricity.”
Bokaba said residents could submit their own meter readings on submission dates scheduled for specific areas.
To determine your submission date, look at your account to see your portion number.
Refer to the meter billing calendar on www.tshwane.gov.za (click on services, meter readings and the relevant billing calendar) to submit your meter readings.
You can also submit your meter readings on 012-358-9999 (press option 2 then option 4), or at meterrecords@tshwane.gov.za.
If you register on e-Tshwane your meter readings will reflect in real-time. Go to www.e-tshwane.co.za and register today.
Residents who would like to verify the identities of Tshwane officials can call 012-358-7054.
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