Technicians from City Power’s Roodepoort Service Delivery Centre (SDC) is set to conduct meter audits of all large power users (LPU) and businesses from October 20 to 28.

According to City Power’s spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, during the audits, their team will inspect LPU meters, business meters, and mini-substation (MSS) units, while also verifying that each meter is correctly linked to its supply point and the relevant substation.

The audits will confirm the number of meters connected to each MSS.

“These audits are a critical preparatory step for the installation of advanced equipment that will help reduce electricity losses, improve monitoring, and ensure quicker fault detection,” he said.

Mangena also added that the Roodepoort SDC area has an overall debt of approximately R870m, with R298m owed by LPUs, R163m by businesses, and R409mn by residential customers.

“City Power is recording a significant portion of energy losses due to bypassed meters and illegal reconnections, which continue to pose serious operational and financial challenges.

To further address electricity losses, City Power is rolling out the Intelligent Distribution System (IDS), a cutting-edge solution designed to curb network abnormalities, reduce energy theft, and address technical losses. Technical losses caused by system inefficiencies account for about 9%, while non-technical losses, including theft and illegal connections, are around 20%, together translating into annual financial losses of roughly
R3.6b.

“The IDS system monitors supply at the substation level, detects problems downstream, identifies theft, monitors phase imbalances, and tracks reactive energy in real time,” he added.

Fines to be paid

Mangena added that LPUs and businesses that refuse meter audits will be disconnected, and a fine of over R30 000 will be imposed for three-phase connections, and additional reconnection fees and penalties may also apply.

“We urge everyone to co-operate and allow our metering technicians to complete their work efficiently. If no one is at the property, our technicians will leave a ‘No Access’ letter at the customer’s premises with the contractor’s name and contact details. In addition, the SDC’s name and the team leader’s contact details will be provided for verification of the details left. Customers are urged to make arrangements for the audit immediately and within the specified audit period.”

Scams

City Power also warns residents to be vigilant and verify the credentials of employees and contractors to avoid scams.

According to Mangena City Power, employees and contractors are required to carry and produce their official ID cards while on duty.

These ID cards are colour-coded according to the different sections within City Power and display important identifying information, including:

• The photo and personal details of the employee or contractor
• The contractor’s verification number (badge number) and expiry date
• A firefly hologram for added security

Contact details for the Security Risk Management Control Room are on the back of the ID cards for easy verification.