Regarding the statement by Mr Tshidiso Tlharipe on the subject Major Announcement regarding electricity tariffs Rand West Local Municipality and especially his explanation on the R50 per month service charge for electricity meters.
I have the following comments:
1. Application for electricity tariffs is normally submitted in January of each year.
2. If the electricity tariff increase of 9,4 per cent was approved by Nersa then that is the only increase that can be implemented by the municipality.
I very much doubt the statement that Nersa added the R50 per month because Nersa only considered the original application of the municipality: Can Mr Tlharipe please publish proof of the original application to Nersa as well as their subsequent approval?
Mr Tlharipe also states that electricity basic charge is a “common phenomenon and all municipalities are subjected to that fee”. Well, I have news for you, Mr Tlharipe. Perhaps you should investigate further before you make statements like that. Our neighbouring municipality Mogale City has no tariff like that. In fact Mogale City installs a free prepaid meter for electricity or water and also maintains it for free (so much for “common phenomenon”).
May I also ask into which account will the income of R50 for each consumer be paid and for what purpose will these funds be used? As far as I know the maintenance for electricity meters is already incorporated in the normal electricity tariffs that we pay. The R50 fee per consumer will amount to more than R2,5 million per month.
This will never, ever be spent on maintenance of meters per month. May I remind you that maintenance funds cannot be spent on capital items like the installation of prepaid meters and salaries?
