Willow Crest Complex residents frustrated with new billing system
Frustrated residents of Willow Crest Complex are angry about smart metering.
The Willow Crest Complex residents in Noordwyk were fed up with receiving bills they could not comprehend.
As a result, on October 4, they took action by blocking the entrance to the complex, preventing vehicles from entering or leaving and demanding prompt answers from the complex’s Board of Trustees regarding their new billing system.
The complex had previously had a prepaid electricity system provided by Protea Metering. However, on September 1, the system was replaced by a smart metering system.
After the change, the residents received bills to pay, which stated that they owed money for water, electricity, and other levies.
Many of the residents had signed leases that stated they only had to pay for electricity and rent, not water.
The residents were also perplexed because they had electricity units before the new system was installed, but now their accounts show negative balances.
They had to pay the bills, but they did not comprehend why they were being charged.
“The new system is unjust and makes no sense,” said the frustrated resident who asked to remain anonymous for his safety. “If you are using prepaid, you know how much electricity you consume per month. But now, with the smart meters, if you paid R2500, you are now being billed for R3500 or R4500.”
“Now, if these new meter readings show you the kilowatts you use per day or per month, it still does not explain why I am being billed so much. So if I include the water and levies in the previous system and match them up with the new, it doesn’t add up. There is about R1500-R2000 in extra value that we don’t know where it is coming from.”
The residents had a memorandum and asserted that the board must either revert to the old system or provide alternatives.
They also demanded a detailed explanation of billing line items, no electricity disconnection until issues were resolved, and the appointment of additional trustees.
They further asked for refunds and reversals of incorrect billing, and for the reversal of the reconnection fees they had to pay when switching systems.
They continued to block the entrance to the complex until their demands were met.
Elaine Moonian, the managing agent of Elaine Moonian Properties, which oversees the complex, called the Midrand Police to disperse the residents.
When the police arrived, they could not remove the residents without the managing agent present, so they called Moonian, who said that the board would speak to the residents later.
The police eventually left, and the board arrived later that night to speak to the residents.
The board agreed to switch on the lights and implement the new system properly.
From October 5, Protea Metering was at the premises resolving billing and making payment arrangements with residents if they indeed overpaid their bills.
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