City Power to monitor meter linked to R17 million bill
BRIXTON – City Power denies criminal elements in multimillion-rand electricity bill.
City Power has released a response on the matter of the R17 million electricity bill.
This following claims of criminal activity being involved in Nico Niemand’s R17 million electricity bill.
READ: R17-million electricity bill reeks of criminal activity
Spokesperson of City Power Isaac Mangena said, “The bill of R17 million was as a result of clock over reading, meaning the reading used to bill the account was lower than the previous reading.”
He said, due to this reason, City Power does not believe there has been any criminal or corrupt elements involved in the issue.
Niemand, a Brixton property owner who received an electricity bill that stated he owed over R17 million, refutes the claims by City Power that his bill was due to clock over reading.
Niemand alleges, “They [City Power] started their investigation when a criminal case was opened at Johannesburg Central Police Station. When the investigating officer went there, they knew that there are problems. That is why they now say this meter is over-clocking. They are lying, they are trying to hide it and we’ve got the proof.”
Mangena said they had logged a call to obtain a proper reading of the meter and on 20 August City Power had sent over an electrician to Niemand’s property to take photographs of the meters in debate.
The meter readings and numbers will be monitored by City Power to figure out what the problem could be.
Niemand welcomed the gesture by City Power but he believes it is a tactic to mislead his claims of the matter involving criminal elements.
Mangena also said they will ask the City to reverse the overcharge and align the meter number with the account number.
