Municipal account disputes – with many massively and routinely inflated power bills – have emerged as a highly-emotional conflict between Emfuleni communities and the business sector unhappy with what they call high-handed and predatory blackmail tactics by officials.

Scores of residents and businesses have now turned to Erpa to untangle their disputed accounts with ELM following an order issued recently by a Vereeniging civil court magistrate forcing ELM to apply previously disregarded laws and by-laws relating to disputes and specifically cut-offs.

The order now also makes it possible that all officials involved in an illegal cut-off process chain can now be charged criminally in their personal capacity and by name – setting a major legal precedent which vastly aids account holders who have little or no power in dealing with the municipality.

The unprecedented court victory has also had a major positive effect on implementing another long-standing demand and goal of Erpa – the establishment recently of a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) by ELM.

But experts have warned that only a complete implementation of smart meters on water and electricity would resolve inflated ELM billing by giving consumers power to regulate and monitor their consumption directly.

Previously no DRC has existed and according to Erpa this was a major violation of municipal consumer and account holder rights, completely skewing the power relationship in favour of blackmail tactics by ELM officials forcing payments for unsubstantiated accounts.

However, it is not known if the DRC is functional but Erpa says it will gladly assist in handling disputes lodged on electricity bills between ELM and account holders.

ELM Municipal Manager Lucky Leseane confirmed that a DRC was set up last week by ELM Council order and added that it would address all billing disputes lodged, including refuse and even rates and taxes in certain cases.

Premier Vaal business organisations Vereeniging Business Cooperation (VBC) and Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) have praised Erpa for untiring advocacy in broadening and deepening the rights of Emfuleni account holders and consumers.

This historical milestone achieved by Erpa shows that rights on paper mean nothing – they must be vigilantly guarded and fought for so that they are implemented for the benefit of business and communities,” said GTCoC President Klippies Kritzinger.