Tshwane warned residents who have yet to settle their accounts of facing the risk of their prepaid electricity meters being blocked by the municipality.
This is as the municipality is tightening its credit control strategy to recoup the billions of rand defaulting customers owe it.
The Metro’s spokesperson, Selby Bokaba, said that the municipality they are warning their customers whose accounts were in arrears that they will not be able to buy electricity without settling their outstanding debt.
“This means that when customers whose accounts are in arrears attempt to purchase electricity, they will not receive the units, but the money will instead be channeled towards the outstanding debt.
“Previously, the City used to take only 60% of the money for the purchase of electricity. A dedicated team has been established and capacitated to assist with inquiries,” Bokaba emphasised.
He alluded that a minimum of 30% payment of the outstanding debt amount would be required for the meter to be unblocked.
Section 4.6 of the City’s Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy allowed for either 60% or 100% blocking of a prepaid meter until the outstanding amount was settled.
Bokaba said enforcing these credit control measures would ensure that either customers pay their outstanding bills in full or enter into a payment arrangement with the City for their prepaid meters to be unblocked and be able to purchase electricity units.
“The City has discovered that some customers deliberately declare a dispute in order to avoid or delay payment of their accounts.
“If the customers have declared a dispute on their accounts, it does not exempt them from paying the current account while waiting for the resolution of the disputed amount.”
Furthermore, Bokaba said it was the customer’s responsibility to pay for the services that they have used.
The metro has issued several cashier services that will be rendered during this festive season.
The following customer care walk-in centres from 27 to 29 December 2023. Business hours will be from 07:45 to 15:15, except on Friday, 22 and 29 December 2023, when offices will close at 12:00:
• Middestad
• Centurion • Soshanguve Block F
• Akasia
• Beirut and
• Hammanskraal
Credit control services will be rendered at the following customer care walk-in centres:
• Akasia
• Middestad
• Centurion
• Soshanguve Block F
Operating hours
• Friday, 22 December 2023: 07:30 to 17:00
• Saturday, 23 December 2023: 07:30 to 13:00
• 27, 28 and 29 December 2023: 07:30 to 17:00
• Saturday, 30 December 2023: 07:30 to 13:00
ALSO READ: Pretoria North SAPS gives early Christmas gifts to the less unfortunate
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram