Rob Johns is all too familiar with the complications plaguing City Power and residents after the recent installation of thousands of smart meters across Johannesburg.
“I did not request this installation but was happy to accept it as I was informed that this would put an end to meter readers calling at the house and ‘estimated’ readings,” said Johns. A smart meter was installed at his house earlier this year.
In the following months, however, Johns experienced frustration, receiving a series of disproportionately high estimated billings and battled to gain a response to the repeated queries he directed to City Power. A query sent by the North Eastern Tribune, however, spurred a visit from City Power officials who photographed Johns’s meter reading.
“The customer query has been resolved. The estimations on his account have been corrected and he will be billed on actual readings,” said Sydney Mphahlela, spokesperson for City Power. Mphahlela thanked the North Eastern Tribune for bringing the issue to City Power’s attention.
Johns’s meter woes may be resolved, but this problem renews concerns about the efficacy of the new smart meters.
“My emails and calls to City Power have failed to produce a definitive answer to the question ‘Can Smart Meters be read remotely?’ If the answer is ‘Yes’ then the next obvious question is ‘Why is this not being done?'” demanded Johns, adding that a procedure allowing residents to submit actual meter readings should be established to avoid estimated billing.
Ward 73 Councillor Marcelle Ravid estimates that 20% of the 80 000 households installed with a smart meter have experienced problems with billing, and says residents commonly experience difficulty reaching City Power. Residents’ only recourse is to visit their nearest walk-in centre to report the problem.
“It’s time the City of Johannesburg gets its billing in order. Enough!” said Ravid.
City Power has not yet responded to further queries about the extent of the problem.
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