THE Smart Water Metering Programme that is being rolled out in areas that include Amanzimtoti, uMhlanga, Westville, New Germany, and Bellair has exceeded its annual installation target, with 1 865 smart water meters installed and a further 135 currently being rolled out.

Also read: Changes to electricity meters in South Africa

This was revealed in the Accounts Management Dashboard Overview report for the month ending in May during the full council meeting on July 7.

In a statement, eThekwini Municipality said this highlights the progress in modernising the City’s water and electricity metering systems to improve billing accuracy, reduce losses and strengthen revenue collection. It also said that smart meters are being introduced to address the problems of ageing infrastructure, faulty meters, electricity theft, and billing inaccuracies.

“The smart meters provide real-time consumption monitoring, tamper detection and improved integration with the municipality’s billing and vending systems, helping to improve customer service and protect municipal revenue,” read the statement.

The City currently relies mostly on estimated billing, which has led ratepayers to raise concerns about incorrect bills.

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