Smart meter and electricity scams in Emfuleni
Smart meter service provider BXC SA and Vaalweekblad have exposed another two smart meter and electricity scams in Emfuleni, advertising openly on social media and charging large amounts to repair electricity boxes and bypass accounts.
From Vaalweekblad investigations, scammers are also targeting specifically small and medium-sized businesses in Emfuleni.
But only accredited agents – or qualified municipal employees – such as BXC SA may work on Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) electricity infrastructure and thus all other service providers and individuals must automatically be regarded as illegal, according to ELM and BXCSA.
BXCSA is now also updating its website with the details of all its employees accredited and authorised to work on electricity infrastructure – this will be opened to the public as soon as possible to protect against criminal or fraudulent activity, said BXCSA.
The two latest scams bring to six the number of illegal service providers or scammers exposed by BXC and Vaalweekblad in the midst of an intensive crackdown on smart meter bypassing in Emfuleni, where the smart meter programme is being rapidly expanded.
In one of them, an Emfuleni guest house owner was contacted under the name of Distribution Energy Power Supply and provided a First National Bank account number and details, requesting payment of R8 950 and using mobile number 060 917 7442.
The second scam involved a WhatsApp advert under the name of Musa Langa and provided a telephone number 0688876711 for any electricity problems – even offering to do DSTV installations.
Attached to the advert was a colourful interior of an electricity box.
BXC SA has now warned the Emfuleni public to be aware of scams and not be taken in by them openly advertising on social media – they remain illegal if they claim to work on any ELM or Eskom electricity infrastructure or account.
“The electricity infrastructure on the outside of your property belongs to the Municipality and no private person may work there, only those instructed or appointed by the Municipality,” said BXC SA Project Manager Dawid Dirks.
BXC SA working with ELM has in recent months recovered more than R2 million for ELM in a crackdown on smart meter bypasses – which entail a R10 000 fine for residences and a R40 000 fine for businsses.
The anti-bypass campaign will be intensified in coming months.
