Trustees shouldn’t set power rate

I AM not sure how much attention has been given to the subject of prepaid electricity tariffs.

I own an apartment in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, and after being charged an abnormal rate for prepaid electricity I queried it and eventually had it reduced after threatening to take action.

Where I initially thought the meter company had set the rate that high, I found that the trustees on the body corporate had the power to amend the rate themselves.

I have all of the evidence to confirm this and would like more exposure to the fact the trustees or ordinary people have the power to determine another’s electricity rate. Electricity is a basic need. I was not given answers as to why the trustees actually charge higher rates, but fees should be according to usage (rate guidelines for prepaid meters are posted on the City Power/Eskom website). Many, many people are being overcharged on prepaid meters and people are earning a profit off a basic need.

In the building where I own a unit, 132 units were being charged at R2.01 per unit where they should have been charged at R1.30 to R1.40.

This is in addition to the 10% fee which goes to the prepaid meter supplier and 4% fee which goes to Unipin [the distribution of secure electronic tokens].

The rate was reduced to R1.50 following my complaint.

I sent my query to Nersa and City Power, to which I have received no response.

The ability to set the rate charged should not be that of a trustee, but should be determined by your average monthly usage only.