A Weltevreden Park resident’s home electricity box has been powering a nearby traffic light for the past three years.
Adrienne Studd made the discovery when one day, three years ago, her power went out. She went to her home’s electricity box to switch it back on.
“I noticed that the robot was also out. I found two switches down [tripped on the meter box]. After pulling both of them up, the robot also went back on.”
Horrified, Studd flicked both switches down. Her electricity went off, as did the traffic light.
“I’m asking myself if I’m actually paying for this robot?” she added.
Studd claims that her electricity bill has increased drastically over the last three years, the latest amounting to R75 000. “How can we use so much electricity in a home? I’m sure even factories don’t use that amount of electricity.”
Studd is also concerned about safety as her electricity box is not covered. According to her, a passer-by could easily turn off a switch.
Since her discovery, Studd has been struggling to sort out the matter as all her communications with the Johannesburg Roads Agency have come to nothing.
“When I go there they tell me they can only sort out one thing at a time; I can’t complain about the traffic light, meter box and the billing queries.”
The Johannesburg Roads Agency and the City of Johannesburg’s Revenue and Customer Relations Department are yet to comment on the matter.
