This week, Rob Rhodes-Houghton asks:
Can somebody please tell us what is being done to sort out the City of Johannesburg’s billing department?
I have not had a correct electricity bill since July 2015 (when a ‘smart’ meter was installed).
Despite trying every available avenue to rectify the problem, like calling the call centre, sending emails, calling the call centre, going to Jorissen Street, calling the call centre, going to the ombudsman, again calling the call centre, going to The Star and calling the call centre again, each month my electricity bill is worse than the month before.
Even though I continue to pay my monthly average, I have been threatened with disconnection, charged interest on arrears and continue to be billed on the most outrageous estimates with no regard whatsoever having been paid to the three actual readings which have, in fact taken, place.
Help!
Ward 102 councillor, David Potter, answers:
Billing queries still plague residents of the City.
The City of Johannesburg, under a new administration, is working hard to ensure that queries related to incorrect bills become a thing of the past. Unfortunately, it will take some time to put people and systems into place.
Residents with billing queries are requested to ensure that the query is logged with the City, via the call centre or by going to a walk-in centre. An 8002 query number will be issued and most queries require a turn-around time of 30 days.
Councillors are able to escalate billing queries, only once the query has been opened and unresolved for 30 days or longer.
Residents also have the option of referring any unresolved query that the City has failed to respond to via the usual channels, like logging, calling, going to a walk-in centre, escalating the issue to a councillor and going to the office of the ombudsman.
Do you have a question for a ward councillor?
As a local newspaper, the Randburg Sun provides a platform for residents to learn about, understand and follow local government. As an extension of that, a weekly column called, Councillor’s Corner, will begin to appear in your newspaper. Councillor’s Corner is a platform for you, our readers, to voice your concerns or questions and for ward councillors to respond to them.
Different, willing, ward councillors will respond to a question every week.
Email your burning question to: aimeed@caxton.co.za and let’s get the ball rolling.
Also read:
Councillor’s Corner: Getting in touch
Councillor’s Corner: Barking dogs
