Flat residents should get free electricity
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) said Actonville residents in council-owned flats who are using the tariff A prepaid meter should still receive free electricity, despite their accounts being in arrears.
“As a rule, our prepayment systems are programmed to always provide free basic electricity (FBE), even if a customer is blocked on the vending system for credit control,” said EMM spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
According to several flat residents, when their 100 units of free electricity stopped at the end of August, they resorted to different methods of buying electricity.
Some used their South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) cards, while others bought electricity using cash.
However, the problem intensified when the prepaid meters of those who were in arrears were blocked at the end of January.
A Flora Court resident, Anotinette October, said she became dependent on the free electricity because she is unemployed.
“I cannot afford to pay the outstanding amount on my lights and rent. Currently, I owe R10 000 for rent, so paying for electricity is not my first priority, but it is a necessity in my home,” she said.
Tamara Moodley, who also lives in Flora Court, said she resorted to buying electricity from a retailer after the 100 units of free electricity stopped.
“If you buy any amount of electricity, even if it is R10, then you receive the 100 units of free electricity, but since my meter is blocked, I cannot buy electricity and I cannot afford to pay for the arrears that I am in,” Moodley said.
Shaida Mothilal, who is a resident of Azalea Court, agreed with Moodley but said her meter is not blocked because she is not in arrears.
“I buy electricity during the first seven days of the new month and then I receive the additional 100 units of free electricity. I do not get the free electricity if I do not buy during the first seven days,” she said.
Gadebe said, “If there is any customer in the Actonville flats who did not receive their FBE as usual, they are welcome to visit the Benoni offices to have this investigated.
“Our prepayment vending system contains a record of every single vending transaction made, for every customer, hence it will be easy to verify any error made on a customer transaction.”
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