Smart meter replacement wars: Now residents fight to KEEP them

By Craig Kotze
As losses and costs of ELM’s smart meter replacement strategy escalate to near R20million already only three weeks into a five-month roll-out, residents of Emfuleni suburbs which earlier bitterly resisted their installation now prepare to fight to keep them.
The estimated losses – both in lost revenue and escalating power theft and destruction of infrastructure – will never be made up as ELM removes smart meters and replaces with less advanced meters, say independent experts. On a preliminary basis.
Experts gave the following preliminary breakdown of losses and costs (direct and indirect) so far into the replacement campaign:
* Lost electricity sales revenue so far – est R4.5 million
* Damaged meters, ground and pole boxes – est R3 million
* Theft and electricity bypassing has cost: est up to R11 million
* Non-smart meter bypasses has cost ELM up to R5million
Residents told Ster/Vaalweekblad the issue for them was they would not go back to the “Dark Ages” with antiquated read-only meters from ELM whereas smart meters gave them full control over their power usage.
Replacement would also give corrupt ELM officials the power to vastly over-charge, which was exactly the reason smart meters were installed in the first place, said residents. Smart meters generate up to R8.2million for ELM monthly after service provider BXCSA established what many experts regarded as the most advanced programme of its kind in Gauteng.
A major mobilisation effort to actively prevent ELM’s replacement roll-out is now being launched by activists and politicians and businesses at a meeting on Wednesday 21 August at the NG Kerk in Falconridge, 27 Edelvalk Street at 1800.
ELM officials and a Member of the Mayoral Management Committee (MMC) are expected to attend.
Explosive ELM documents showing it knew replacement of 8000 plus smart meters would result in revenue losses and other logistical issues, but decided to go ahead anyway without necessary tender and public participation processes, are in Ster/Vaalweekblad’s possession.
This has intensified efforts by business to suspend and investigate ELM’s top two officials over the smart meter issue – and alleged irregular appointments – and halt the dismantling of the replacement and “chaotic” bridging process.
The Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) also escalated efforts in this regard by appealing directly to Gauteng Premier David Makhura for action on the officials.
And on Monday, Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) CEO Klippies Kritzinger met Executive Mayor Gift Moerane to discuss requests for the suspension and investigation of acting Municipal Manager Dithaba Nkoane and Chief Financial Officer Andile Dyakala.
In further pressure on the two embattled officials, two Gauteng Province MEC’s are expected in the Vaal on Friday to meet with the GTCoC on the smart meter issue and related concerns.
Residents and businesses in Vereeniging suburbs such as Three Rivers and Falcon Ridge and Risiville started mobilising this week to actively prevent ELM from “illegally installing antiquated post-paid read-only meters” in the place of smart meters which give consumers the ability to control power usage closely.
Activists and residents said they were “vehemently” opposed to replacement of smart meters , with community activist Charmaine “Charzi” Grobler – who heads a social media influencer group of more than 4000 – saying ELM and their representatives would be regarded as trespassers.
“ELM are masters of their own misfortune in this regard as they have created this situation themselves.
“Correct legal tender processes and public participation processes were not followed so any attempt to replace smart meters by ELM employees or their service providers will be regarded and treated as trespassing.
“Furthermore we will also regard any attempt by ELM or any of their representatives to install the suggested meters at any electricity boxes on the streets as illegal, “ Charzi told Ster/Vaalweekblad this week.
(In an earlier online version of this story and in a print version of the Ster/Vaalweekblad Charzi was incorrectly quoted as saying that any tampering with electricity boxes would be illegal. The word tampering was not used by Charzi and Mooivaal media regrets and apologises for the mistake)
ELM was approached for comment on smart meter issues and said it would be issuing a media statement, which had not yet been issued at time of publication.
Once received, it will be carried in full in online Mooivaal publications.