- Residents of Lavender Hill are demanding the removal of newly installed electricity meter boxes.
- They allege that these have led to a dramatic increase in their electricity tariffs.
- Protests have been held, and a list of demands has been presented to City officials.
Lavender Hill residents are demanding the removal of the newly installed City meter boxes as electricity tariffs allegedly shot up in recent months.
Last month, residents took to the streets in protest against high electricity tariffs, new meter boxes and meter tampering allegations.
Residents have since handed over a list of demands to City officials.
Community leader Apostle Dorothy Soetwater (59) says residents met with the municipal officials last week to discuss their demands and complaints.
The demands include the removal of meter boxes and having electricity arrears “written off”.
“We are tackling one thing at a time,” says Soetwater. “This is just the beginning.”
READ | Lavender Hill residents protest high electricity tariffs, demand fair treatment
Accusations
Soetwater, who receives a disability grant, adds that many residents were accused of meter tampering.
“We are waiting for the City to prove that there was tampering,” she says. “We can’t survive.”
During a community meeting in Lavender Hill on Wednesday 21 August, residents shared how they struggled to survive due to high electricity costs.
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Fatima Klein, whose mother is a pensioner, claimed the City forced them to install a new electricity meter, which pushed up their electricity costs.
“We used to purchase R120 to R150 electricity and it would last a week.
“It has now gone up to using R150 a day,” she said.
Meanwhile, in a statement last week, Mayco member for energy Xanthea Limberg claimed that Eskom’s unaffordable and unreasonable electricity price hikes were one of the reasons for an apparent spike in meter tampering cases.
said Limberg.
Currently, over 12 000 electricity meters metro-wide have allegedly been tampered with.
“Approximately 30% of our customers receive free basic electricity,” Limberg adds.
“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.”
Tampering
Meter tampering occurs when a person interferes with the City’s electricity meter equipment to pay less for electricity or not at all.
When evidence of tampering is found, a full investigation is allegedly conducted which includes examining the resident’s electricity usage and purchase history, in detail, over many years.
If tampering is found, the resident also has a right to appeal.
Residents may not interfere with City employees and contractors performing their official duties.
The City’s electricity by-law 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.
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.
- Should a customer want to dispute or appeal the findings contact the City’s Call Centre: 0860 103 089.
