Power cut off without prior notice of audit

Fay Smolinsky writes: On August 9, a public holiday, the council disconnected the power to my home in Highlands North because its workers were unable to gain entry to do a reading “as a result of your failure to allow us access to your premises”.

There was no failure to allow access, there was simply no one home on the day when they arrived without prior notice.

These bullying tactics are unacceptable. How should we know that they are coming to do readings?

We have no problem with meter readers coming into our home when we are there, as has happened in the past.

Surely they should leave a letter advising of the next date

and time for the meters to be read?

It took about 24 hours before the power was reconnected, which is simply unacceptable.

The reconnection was made only after we phoned the council continuously and faxed proof of payment.

Councillor Marcelle Ravid writes: It seems the council is on an electricity cut-off rampage again. I recently received a call from Norwood residents who were away for the long weekend and their electricity had been terminated because there was no one home to let the City Power “auditors” on to the property.

There was no warning about when this audit would happen.

The city replies: About 400 000 electricity meters are to be checked by the City of Joburg, while it tries to clean up its database.

The council will place red stickers on the affected properties.

Those marked are required to call the telephone number on the sticker and arrange for a meter reading. Failing this, their power will be cut.

Residents can arrange for the auditors to come to their property at a specific time within the period the auditors will be in their area.

Reasonable notification will be given to the customer to grant us access, failing which the by-laws will be implemented and residents can expect to have their power cut off and pay a fine.

The data collection and verification initiative done by City Power on behalf of the City of Joburg intends to validate and audit all stands within City Power’s area of supply.

The exercise will help the council understand the challenges that customers face regarding the conditions of electricity supply and that customers are serviced effectively.

The team will wear reflective jackets with City Power and Motla logos.

They will have ID cards and an audit authorisation letter from City Power.

For more information, or to verify the authenticity of the data audit contractors, residents can contact call centres at 086 146 6852 and 0860 562 874, SMS 073 001 0473 or visit www.citypower.co.za or www.motla.co.za

A schedule of the audit in your area will be published and then often updated on City Power’s website: www.citypower.co.za/ auditschedule

If residents receive a red sticker where meters can’t be accessed, call the City Power contractor at 011 490 7484; e-mail estimations@citypower.co.za or SMS 44074.

Call centre hours are from 7am to 10pm from Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm at weekends.