40 000 face new power cuts

Not giving city meter readers access to your property could result in your services being cut off – even if you have paid your account.

This is the new policy of the City of Joburg which could result in the cut-off of electricity to about 40 000 residents whose properties cannot be accessed for meter readings.

And residents whose accounts are up to date, and who either phone in or send an e-mail of their meter readings, could still find themselves facing the inconvenience of having their power cut off and paying a reconnection fee if the city has been unable to physically check meter readings.

In the past, the city has issued estimated readings to owners of properties which cannot be accessed for readings. Now, the city says in terms of by-laws, the council cannot issue estimates for longer than three months in a row and it will therefore resort to cutting off services if meters cannot be read.

Kensington resident Ufrieda Ho was incensed at finding herself without power on Wednesday. “My account is up to date and even the call centre confirmed this. How can they just disconnect? What happens if no one is at home?” she said.

She said not only had her meter been read last month, but the notification of the cut-off had been placed in her gate only after her power had been cut. Ho said she was not happy about allowing strangers on to her property.

“People stand and bang at the front gate all the time. We don’t know who they are. This is unfair,” she said.

But city revenue spokesman Kgamanyane Stan Maphologela said there were many customers who still did not allow meter readers on to their properties.

“While they may submit their readings in other ways, we still have to read the meters every three months. The readers are there also to check the meters to see if they are in proper working order. We are entitled to do cut-offs in terms of the city’s by-laws,” he said.

Maphologela said before the cut-off, residents were given a written warning and an opportunity to make an appointment with the meter reader if there was no one on the premises during the day.

“Customers are given a cellphone number before the cut-off so that arrangements for a reading can be made. If they do not do so, they will be cut off,” he said.

Residents who are affected should contact the city to avoid termination of the supply of electricity to their premises, he said.

To contact the city call 011 490 7484; fax: 011 490 7223, e-mail: estimations@citypower.co.za The SMS line is 44074.

Call centre hours are from 7am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on weekends.

How to ID legitimate officials

An ID card with a name and picture of the individual. The ID card will identify the individual as a City Power contractor. The individual will wear either a brown or blue overall under the City Power reflector jacket.

The Star