How to avoid estimated billing
Selcourt resident Charles Gale is disheartened after being billed for an estimate electricity reading by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
This is not the first time Gale believes he has been overcharged by the municipality (Advertiser, August 6, ‘Ridiculous metro estimates’).
He lives alone and cannot understand why he is being billed R1 167 per month for electricity.
“I am hardly ever at home and my washing is not even done at home,” he reported previously.
The metro requested Gale to phone in his meter readings, but he feels it is not his job and believes the metro should do proper readings.
He is adamant the metro has access to his property and they don’t need to estimate.
Metro spokesman Themba Gadebe says when they received the complaint, they immediately dispatched their in-house meter reader to the premises.
The premises were locked, which made it difficult to gain access in order to take the readings.
A reading, however, was taken on September 28.
He says the metro’s meter reading contractors have reported on several occasions that they don’t have access to Gale’s premises.
The metro also informed Gale to take photos of the readings, which he allegedly failed to do.
“Therefore the metro’s meter reader supplied estimated readings as per council guidelines,” says Gadebe.
“The council by-laws indicate that meters are council property and council must have access at all times.
“Failure to be able to do so will generate estimations.
“We will consolidate the information during our next meeting with the meter reading company regarding the request made and establish a way forward to address the fact that access is a problem.”
It is suggested that photo readings be emailed to the metro on the 24th of each month to Vuyiswa.Mnguni@ekurhuleni.gov.za and Zacharia.Mojalefa@ekurhuleni.gov.za.
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