Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Prepaid meters draw customer complaints
THERE has been mixed reaction from Capetonians as the City of Cape Town continues to replace electricity meter boxes across its jurisdiction.
The City is on a mission to replace all the domestic credit meters with prepaid ones in the next five years.
Residents have complained about the changes they experienced following the replacements of their meters, with some saying their monthly expenditure increased to nearly double, with fewer units.
Others said there’s an extra fee on their bill, which they noticed only after the installation. They said the staff implementing the project were making demands and threatening to disconnect them if they refused.
Robert Koning, from Milnerton tried to reject the replacement.
“They came to our complex around May and dropped off a bunch of letters, saying they were coming for an inspection and to upgrade to the smart meters. The letter said if we did not give them access, they would cut off the electricity in the next 30 days.
“So we called and said we didn’t need the meter upgraded. We’re on prepaid which is why we weren’t keen on changing the meter. I would only recommend it if they threaten to cut your power off.”
Mayco member for energy Beverley van Reenen confirmed the change was compulsory and resistant occupants would be disconnected. She said customers remained on the same tariff after switch-over.
Howard Benjamin, from Belhar, said he noticed an increase in his bill after the meters were installed.
“We normally purchased about R800 of electricity in summer months and R1 000 in winter. Then we suddenly experienced problems from the first month after the meter was installed. The power went out by the 15th of the month and we had to top up.
“We currently spend R2 000 plus per month. It is a rip-off, and no one cares to explain this. I didn’t address it with the City as I know from my previous enquiries that you get nowhere with them.
An entrepreneur from Strand, Maseline Useni, runs a business at a different property from her home. She had her meter changed two years ago and her units dropped.
“Then the one at my business – that one will be the death of me. Units fly. I moved from R100 per week to something confusing. Sometimes I get 14 units for R100 and other times I get two units for R70. I have a daily charge of R5 and that started when I got the smart meter.
“I’ve resorted to switching off all other electric gadgets and just use a 210 litre freezer and power saving-lights but still, I’m not winning. I don’t understand why the freezer at my workplace takes more units than the one at home. I’ve resorted to switching off my work freezer every night so as to save,” Useni said.
Kevin Rodgers of Plumstead said he had been paying an extra R180 on his bill ever since the installation.
“We need to know where the money we’re paying is going. It’s not like their service has improved, I recently had a problem with that box and I had to wait until the next day for help,” he said.
Van Reenen said the new meters did away with reading estimates and customers would be able to track their consumption through the in-home display and customers would remain on the same tariff after switch-over to a prepayment meter.