DA requests ELM Mayor to answer these questions regarding Smart Meters
E.g.: Will every household get a new meter, including houses with existing prepaid meters?
DA Councillor Phillip Nothnagel of Ward 5 in the Emfuleni Local Council, writes this open letter to the Mayor:
Dear Mr Mayor
It is common knowledge the Smart Meter System at ELM has collapsed. The blame for the collapse can be laid squarely at the door of the Emfuleni Municipality. ELM officials went as far as to apologize to the residents for this fiasco, at public meetings held in this regard. Not all people affected by this crisis were able to attend any of the public meetings held. Ward Councillors are being inundated with calls from citizens, demanding to know what the situation regarding the bridging, removal and replacement of smart meters is. As DA’s councillors we have decided to convey these questions to you in this open letter to give you a fair chance to respond to all the concerns. This will ensure total transparency and avoid any confusion in future.
The most important issues that the residents need answers to are: –
1. When will the existing smart meters be replaced?
2. Will every household get a new meter, including houses with existing prepaid meters?
3. How long will it take?
4. How much will it cost to replace the existing meters?
5. Where will ELM get the funds for the installation of new meters, especially since the Municipality is bankrupt?
6. Will ELM not be forced to increase rates and taxes to finance the new meters?
7. Will the electricity rates remain the same as with existing prepaid meters?
8. What are the benefits of the new system?
9. Has the system been tested by ELM to eliminate any possible problems?
10. Can you please explain the following once a consumer’s meter has been bridged by ELM;
• When will you get a new meter?
• Will consumers be credited with their balance on the old meter?
• Will a resident still be charged monthly for electricity used, until such time as a new meter is installed?
• How will the Municipality know what the electricity consumption is for individual households during the interim period, seeing that his/her meter have been bridged?
• Will the public be informed about when the installation will take place in each individual area and each house and how will this information be conveyed?
• Who can the public contact at ELM with enquiries, concerns and problems regarding smart meters?
As warned and voted against by the DA, when the smart meter contract was approved by Council, the smart meter system ended up in a disaster. How will ELM ensure that the municipality does not fall in the same trap?
It will be appreciated if ELM could issue a press release urgently to address this matter.
