Cllr Deborah Francisco ‘shuts door’ to smart meters in Alex

Community (web AX & AN)

Online Headline: Cllr Deborah Francisco 'shuts door' to smart meters in Alex

Online Teaser: City Power’s initiative to install smart meters in Alexandra faced a setback as Ward 108 councillor Deborah Busisiwe Francisco protested during a scheduled installation, citing a lack of communication and fairness in the rollout process.

Xoliswa Zakwe
xoliswan@caxton.co.za

City Power’s renewed efforts to install meters in Alexandra hit an unexpected snag when Ward 108 councillor Deborah Busisiwe Francisco objected to a meter being installed at her residence.

The incident occurred on August 15 as City Power’s initiative to install 5 000 meters in the area, starting with the councillor, went underway.

City Power employees arrived at Francisco’s home, ready to implement the long-awaited smart meter installation, a process aimed at normalising the electricity supply in the township.

However, the situation rapidly escalated when Francisco objected to the presence of the technicians, claiming there was no proper communication between her and the power utility. Reportedly she banged the door shut in the face of the technicians who had come to install the meter, claiming victimisation.

“I am disappointed because City Power’s actions make me feel like a target. I know that, as a councillor, I must pay for the services but I must not be a target.

“There are a lot of houses with illegal connections in Alexandra but City Power targeted me. Thought they should come and install a meter for me. No! I won’t allow that,” Francisco said.

She added that she does not think it is proper for the power utility to install the meter at her home while it fails to collect the money for electricity from every household in her ward.

City Power’s spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the power utility’s commitment to improving energy services comes from extensive engagements with the community, where residents expressed their willingness to pay for reliable electricity services.

They then thought they should start with the ward councillor, so they could lead by example.

“This normalisation programme is essential for the stability of our network and the provision of quality services. By auditing, replacing, and resetting smart pre-paid meters across the township, we are helping to combat issues such as meter tampering and illegal connections, which have plagued the area for years,” Mangena said.

Alexandra has long been affected by bypassed and vandalized meters. City Power reports that, out of approximately 45 000 registered prepaid meter customers, only 17% were paying for electricity as of this year, a modest improvement from 4% last year.

Mangena said City Power has undertaken various measures to improve infrastructure in Alexandra, including capacity increases at local substations and the installation of solar high mast lights for resident safety during load-shedding.

“Further investment in solar microgrids and water geysers aims to alleviate financial pressure on paying customers, ensuring reliable service,” Mangena said.

Looking ahead, the utility aims to ramp up community participation in the smart meter rollout. “As we complete this normalisation project, we expect improved revenues, which will pave the way for additional investments in enhancing the area’s power supply.

“We are committed to making this installation free of charge for all eligible customers, and we urge everyone to co-operate in ensuring they receive their new meters,” Mangena said.

Mangena emphasised that customers who do not accept the new meters will risk losing the ability to purchase electricity units in the coming months, leading to disconnection.

“It's vital for residents to understand that accepting the new smart meters is not just beneficial for them but critical for the entire community’s electricity infrastructure,” Mangena concluded.