THE community of Ward 56 will have a meeting with City Power concerning the smart meters, prepaid meters and old meters that need to be read.
Ward 56 Clr Dennis Jane and officials from City Power will be addressing the community. Community members are urged to attend to share their experience regarding smart meters.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 20 from 18:30 to 20:00 (time will strictly be adhered to), at Townsview Primary School, Valda Street (entrance from Crozier Street).
The following issues raised by the community will be addressed:
• What is the roll-out plan for Ward 56? Everything seems to have died down.
• Can you have a prepaid smart meter?
• What is the procedure to have a smart meter installed?
• Unnecessary and fruitless spending. City Power has a high propensity to undertake corrupt tenders, with the geysers in Alexandra as proof.
• The meters are contrary to the spirit of the NDP, replacing human meter readers with technology.
• Issues around house fires post-installation.
• The general appearance of those attempting to install the meters. No uniform, wearing eye rings, smoking and similar.
• The threat that if residents don’t convert to smart meters, City Power will cut them off at 7pm on a Friday evening and reconnect the power only when it suits them.
• City Power is a government-protected monopoly. There is no stakeholder visibility and transparency. As primary stakeholders, the community should be provided with a copy of the tender.
• In certain areas where new meters were installed, they have been stolen, and replacing them takes days, leaving residents with no power.
• Is the algorithm that City Power needs to fix accounts being applied properly?
• Is there an undertaking that City Power won’t charge above the normal rate during peak hours (it offers low off-peak rates, so the opposite could be true too).
• How can City Power help the community to save electricity?
For more information, contact Phillip Venter on 082 475 8471 or phillipventer@hotmail.com.
