Johannesburg - At 4.30pm on Friday, March 13 two vehicles with stick-on plates identifying the vehicles as belonging to EPG, a subcontractor for City Power, arrived with four men at my house.
They carried proper identification badges (I checked) and stated that they had come to install a smart meter in the house.
When I asked to see a letter to the homeowner or some official proof of why they were there without an appointment they told me that they had nothing in writing with them but that, in any case, I should already know about it as I should have read about it in “the papers or heard it on the radio”.
I have, in the meantime, heard of teething problems that some users are experiencing with their smart meters – such as only getting billing estimates for over six months because the smart meter was not communicating correctly with the central control board – so I said that I did not want a smart meter fitted.
The crew then got agitated and told me that I had to let them fit it – as it was now time for them to go home – or they would immediately “cut off the power” and it would cost me “R15 000 to get it reconnected”. I asked them to repeat this and I have it on tape where they stated they would disconnect the power immediately if I did not let them in to fit the meter. I did not manage to get the R15 000 they quoted to be reconnected on tape.
At 4.50pm I called City Power on 011 375 5555 and spoke to a woman by the name of Bennie, who assured me that the teams had absolutely no authority to disconnect power to consumers and that I did not have to accept the machine now if I did not want it. According to City Power, all calls to this number are recorded.
I relayed the message given by Bennie to the teams and they left, albeit with bad grace and after telling me they will be back “next week”.
I would point out that I was alone at the house when they arrived and, although there was no shouting, the attitude of the four men was aggressive and I felt sufficiently threatened to call our security company to come as I was afraid the situation might get nasty.
When I told them I did not appreciate being threatened I was told that as they did not have “guns” I was not being threatened.
I realise EPG have been given a job to do but I think it is wrong that their employees are allowed, or even instructed, to resort to demanding entry to install the machines and then threatening consumers – who do not wish to have the meters – with immediate disconnection and then ruinous costs to have the power put back on.
Gauteng consumers should know that they have the right to refuse these teams access to their property and that they should not be intimidated if they are threatened with disconnection of their electricity supply should they not want, at least for the time being, to have the meters fitted in their home.
Janice Owen
Greenside, Joburg
City Power responds:
In terms of the City’s by-laws, City Power has the authority to disconnect households and businesses whose meters are inaccessible.
City Power has a mandate to bill its customers for electricity consumed, hence it is crucial that residents and business owners grant City Power officials and its sub-contractors access to their properties for meter reading purposes.
In a bid to improve its services to its customers, City Power has installed smart meters in households around Joburg in response to the frustrations expressed by its customers regarding inaccurate billing which was mainly based on consumption estimates and lack of access onto properties for meter reading purposes.
Smart meters are electricity meters which are linked to computer systems.
Automated meter reading reports the exact amount of electricity used during a particular period, without requiring physical visits to properties by City Power technicians.
In the event when City Power officials or contractors visit your property for the purposes of installing smart meters or meter reading, residents and property owners are strongly advised to verify the authenticity of these officials by calling the City Power helpline on 087 022 0540 or 011 490 7553 before granting them entry.
Should the timing of the installation or meter reading not be suitable for the property owner, or in the event that the property owner requires more information about smart meters, they can call 087 022 0540 to either arrange for an alternative time or secure an appointment with a City Power agent who will provide them with more information and respond to any queries and concerns.
Resistance to the installation of smart meters will result in the affected household being disconnected by City Power officials together with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department.
City Power wishes to unreservedly apologise for the reported conduct of its sub-contractors.
The matter is receiving our utmost attention internally.
City Power expects its employees and contractors to conduct themselves in line with the company values by treating customers with courtesy and respect at all times.
* The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
The Star