City Power to read all meters and avoid estimations
All meter reading contractors are issued with City Power identification cards which clearly display the contractor details and a picture.
IN the past City Power had difficulty accessing customer properties to read meters. The major contributor to this challenge was criminal elements taking advantage of the situation by presenting themselves as City Power personnel or contractors.
The City Power meter reading process is as follows: the initial reading is done on the customer’s property for billing purpose. When access is not gained the second visit is then dispatched and a notice advising the customer that access was not gained is then delivered. When access is still not gained for two consecutive months without a customer contacting City Power Metering Contact Centre on 011 490 7484, SMS 44074 or email wmcqueries@citypower.co.za to make arrangements, then a disconnection notice is issued.
City Power will strictly manage contractors. All meter-reading contractors are issued with City Power identification cards which clearly display the contractor details and a picture. These details can be verified by contacting the City Power Security Control Room on 011 490 7553/7504/7900/7911.
City Power director of metering, Lerato Setshedi said, “We want to ensure that we have data on a monthly basis so as to reduce instances where customers are estimated. A meter reading schedule has been distributed that will show a suburb and a day on which readings will be taken so that customers can anticipate when the readings will be done.
“We encourage customers to ensure that they make arrangements with us on when can we visit their properties to do meter reading during those days that are allocated for their area.”
In terms of the Electricity Regulation Act no, 4 of 2006, the Local Government Municipal Systems Act no, 32 of 2000, and the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Electricity by-laws, City Power may disconnect customers if electricity meters are inaccessible on two or more occasions to their meter readers. In such instances, a notice is left at the property of the customer requesting customers to contact City Power within 48 hours, upon receipt of the notice to avoid disconnections. Should customers not contact City Power within 48 hours as stipulated in the notice, electricity may be disconnected without further notice to customers. Customers will be liable for reconnection fees.
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