‘Proposed audit is welcomed’
It remains to be seen if the many people who have enjoyed illegal free water over the years will be ready to accept prepaid meters.
I was very interested to read the front page report about the meter audit underway at Ugu District Council. How the audit will herald something different from the smart metering pilot project presented to the executive committee by a Mr Dlamini of T2-Tech Consulting Engineers at the end of July remains to be seen.
It has become necessary to take action because of the Auditor-General’s disclaimer opinion when he expressed his concern about Ugu’s lack of ability to generate sufficient income from the sale to the public of water and sanitation, which at approximately R23-million a month is insufficient to cover its costs.
Mr Dlamini reported that one of the measures included in the plan was the replacement of water meters with more technologically powered and accurate meters. Members of the executive committee as well as the speaker related how members of the communities who attended budget road shows had sharply raised the issue of smart meters. The committee had not been previously advised that smart meters were part of a pre paid system. It was pointed out that in the pilot scheme some meters had been installed, but they were not operating. It was further reported at the meeting that the community wanted the municipality to write off all old debts before the prepaid system could come into operation.
I have been informed that only 10 percent of Ugu’s meters are read on a regular basis, and that the officials employed and paid to read the meters bluntly refuse to do the job they were engaged to do. As far as I can establish no disciplinary action has been taken against them for refusing to carry out legal instructions.
This proposed system which is aimed at dealing with illegal connections and leaking and faulty meters is to be welcomed as most of the potable water produced or purchased at great expense from Umgeni Water, is not actually paid for by consumers. This is because of unread or faulty meters, illegal connections, incorrect estimates, free basic water, public stand pipes and leaks due to the ageing distribution infrastructure.
It remains to be seen if the many people who have enjoyed illegal free water over the years will be ready to accept prepaid meters, and actually pay for the water consumed every month. The sooner this happens the sooner all consumers will be willing to pay for the water they use on their own account.
One wonders how many of the 84 ward councillors in the six municipalities that make up Ugu are sufficiently well informed to explain the new system to the people in the wards as suggested by the spokesman for Ugu in the article.
DAVE SNASHELL
