The issue of meter tampering has been highlighted in pockets of Area South.
This according to a statement issued by the City of Cape Town, in which it alleges that “Eskom’s unaffordable and unreasonable electricity price hikes are one of the main reasons for an apparent spike in tampering cases in recent years.”
It added that “those using limitless electricity without paying for it, add to the rising costs of electricity because more is being used than paid for.”
The City reminds residents of its extensive Free Basic Electricity grants and help through the Lifeline tariff.
“The City is fighting against Eskom’s latest tariff hike application proposing to further increase the price of electricity by a whopping 44%, but we must also uphold the law and treat all customers fairly. Currently more than 12 000 electricity meters metro-wide have been established as having been tampered with, setting up electricity theft.
“It is not sustainable for the City as the income lost is essential to help pay for the cost of providing electricity. Without it, and if too many people steal electricity, there will eventually not be enough income to cover the cost of providing services as the income already does not cover service provision sufficiently. We have extensive subsidies available to qualifying residents to help struggling households.”
“Approximately 30% of our customers receive Free Basic Electricity,” said Mayco Member for Energy Alderman Xanthea Limberg. “I implore our residents who need help in Lavender Hill, Parkwood, Mitchells Plain, Lotus River, Manenberg, Pelican Park and other parts of Area South to visit their municipal customer interaction centre to see what help is on offer.
What is meter tampering?
It occurs when a person interferes with the City’s electricity meter equipment to pay less or not pay for electricity at all. This is despite the extensive subsidies and help available to qualifying residents. . All electricity meters belong to the City of Cape Town and the law requires that all households with City meters must give the City and its contractors reasonable access to check suspected faulty meters or irregular power usage. . Residents may not interfere with City employees and contractors performing their official duties. They may not prevent the City from entering where it has the legal right to perform its work and service delivery. It’s illegal to threaten or prevent City officials and contractors from entering service areas. It is to the detriment of the broader community. . Thorough tampering investigations take place on an ongoing basis. . When evidence of tampering is found, the City conducts a full investigation, which includes examining the resident’s electricity usage and purchase history, in detail, over a number of years. . If tampering is found, the resident also has a right to appeal.
The City’s Electricity By-law (Section 26 – Tampering with service connection or supply mains) states that no person may in any manner or for any reason whatsoever tamper with, interfere with, vandalise or deface any meter or metering equipment or service connection, or protective device or supply mains or any other equipment of the service provider.
Should a customer want to dispute or appeal the findings:
. Contact the City’s Call Centre: 0860 103 089. . Provide the reference number that they would have received as part of the notice of tampering issued to them. . Provide their contact information.. The customer has 21 days to make representation. . The matter will then be reviewed and the customer contacted.. If not resolved, the customer may make representation to the Director Electricity Generation and Distribution Department and even go so far as to approach the Office of the City Ombudsman.. If the customer fails to dispute or make representation within the allotted time (21 days), the fees are loaded on the prepaid meter for recovery. The City never turns a customer away simply because 21 days have expired, but will address a query.
Why electricity costs go up in general, and in relation to tampering:
1. When there is tampering, no payment is made for the electricity used. The meter is bypassed and evidence of the bypassing is typically very clear on investigation. Photographic evidence is taken for further investigation.
2. Once the illegal tampering at the identified household is rectified it would be normal for the consumer to see an increase in their electricity costs, due to paying for the actual electricity usage in their household.
3. Debt recovery action for the tampering will also be instituted, on average 50% of the purchase, but indigent customers may have reduced recovery.
4. Eskom has increased the price of electricity. The City must increase as well to cover costs. The cost increased in the new financial year starting 1 July.
5. In winter, typically households use more electricity, this drives up costs.
Progressive Lifeline tariff benefits in a nutshell:
. Big price reduction of 44% less, averaging use of 450 units per month – that’s R1,89 less per unit.. No other city has reduced the price of electricity for indigent households over the last two years.. Last year, the City raised the number of units that could be bought by Lifeline customers on the cheaper tariff from 350 to 600 units a month. This financial year, the blocks were collapsed into one block on the lower tariff. . Remember, customers must stay on 450 units per month over 12 months.. Lifeline customers using up to 600 units in a month, will pay R113,94 less compared to two years ago.
To see if you qualify for social support or payment arrangements to settle debt, please visit your nearest customer offices.
