Inhabitants of housing complexes and apartments might be paying too much for their electricity.
DA Councillor Carl Mann recently brought the issue to the Record’s attention.
“If you have bulk electricity being supplied to your apartment or housing complex, and where your managing agent or body corporate collects the City of Johannesburg’s levies from you, then you and your complex may be paying more than you need to for your electricity,” explains Mann.
“Each apartment or dwelling unit should be benefiting every month from the inclined block (stepped) tariff as published by City Power. But in many cases, this is not being done and you end up paying more for your electricity than you should,” Mann continues.
Mann went on to say that it should be possible to negotiate this benefit for the complex with the Revenue Departments at the walk-in people centres of the City of Johannesburg for your area.
Mann explained the problem by example.
Assuming a 10-nit complex or block of flats uses 10 000kWh of electricity per month. If there is no individual calculation per unit each individual pays a pro rata share of the bulk account, most likely climbing up the steps of the tariff to the highest block.
If the average consumption is applied, the whole complex should be given the benefit of the average consumption. The managing agent still can charge each individual based on the actual consumption where this is metered and it still should add up to the same amount.
For example:
• 500 kWh @ R0,8498/kWh = R424,98
• 500 kWh @ R0,8681/kWh = R434,05
• 1 000 kWh @ R0,9242/kWh = R924,20
• 1 000 kWh @ R1,0224/kWh = R1 022,40
• 7 000 kWh @ R1,0963/kWh = R7 674,10
This means a total for 10 units of R10479,73 that in turn means that each unit pays R1 047,93. The 10 000kWh is divided by the 10 units, so each is charged as follows:
• 500 kWh @ R0,8498/kWh = R424,98
• 500 kWh @ R0,8681/kWh = R434,05
Total for each unit therefor equals R859,03.
The bulk account then equals 10 times the average, which equals R8 590 and each unit therefore saves 17,94 per cent.
Residents can use the following link for more information :
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1cgs_xgdR1asttQUpiU-RtmsVjzETrJvjOjaFvTX7od8/viewform
