EDITOR – A year ago the municipality changed to new meter readers.
For most of 2013 we struggled to get the correct meter readings reflected on our monthly invoices.
Initially we could phone readings into the call centre, but after a few months our calls were channelled to what I can only assume were the actual new meter readers.
The process was rather haphazard and at no point did we have the option, like before 2013, to update our readings online, like on the Motla website.
For 10 months we hobbled along with incorrect and intermittent readings and in November I saw a reading reflected for September 2013.
Two months behind, but at this point I had been paying projected monthly estimates for close to six months, so much so that Ekurhuleni actually owed me money.
I initiated a discussion with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality through their e-siyahokha portal, but other than a prompt referral, I hit another dead end.
Then came the December 2013’s invoice.
Readings were now reflected for a November reading date; the invoice suddenly covered two months.
Reading dates were now only one month behind, not two months as per the November invoice, a very positive step.
But and this is the stealing bit; by rolling two months of electricity and water usage into one month, consumers were paying for usage at the maximum rates for water and electricity.
To my knowledge the municipality uses a sliding scale, which means the more you use the higher the unit cost.
This is definitely true for water and likely true for electricity usage.
So in one sweet move, the EMM is raking in quite a nice little nest-egg from its paying customers.
THEO
EDENVALE
Letter received January 6
EDITOR’S COMMENT – The letter was sent to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality’s department of communications and brand management for comment.
Comment received stated the following:
Meter readings can still be phoned in on 011 999-3020/3118/3119/3090.
Unfortunately, when Motla stopped reading, we lost the service for online readings.
All EMM accounts are payable in the second month after actual consumption, which means July’s actual consumption is billed in August and is payable in September.
Council did not obtain readings for October and interims were charged on the October account. However, when we received the November readings, all interims were reversed.
Accounts are now in line with the meter readings and actual consumption is billed for.
Only water is charged on a sliding scale, in the event of charging an interim reading, the same tariff is used.
In this case, interims were charged in the absence of actual readings at the normal tariff and when actual readings were obtained, the interims were reversed.
The interim reversal should compensate for the higher charge for water, on the sliding scale.
It is important that customers make sure the EMM can get access to their meters to obtain actual readings as this will prevent interims being charged.
