With the billing problems a number of residents experienced previously with the City of Johannesburg, most of them resorted to using prepaid electricity. One such resident is Thomas Mostert of Weltevreden Park who says he saw it as a solution to his billing problems. “I started spending less on electricity and what I love most is that I can monitor my electricity usage and consumption easily,” said Mostert.
Everything was well and running smoothly until he noticed that he doesn’t receive the same number of units with each purchase he makes even if he buys for the same amount. “The electricity units keep on going up and down and there is no one willing to explain to me why that is happening.”
Mostert says when he questions the outlets where he makes purchases they tell him that they are just suppliers and any queries should be directed to City Power. When he goes to City Power, there is never anyone available to assist him. On some of the receipts he has the fluctuation clearly shows. On 3 September he purchased electricity for R300 and received 279.2 kwh and on 23 September he made another purchase for the same amount and only received 243.6 kwh. “How is that possible?” questioned Mostert. He highlighted that the worst case he had was when he made two separate purchases for the same amount at the same time and still received different units where one purchase was far less than the other.
City Power is still to respond to questions sent to them and explain how the prepaid electricity units work.
