Look out for bogus electricians
Numerous residents have fallen victim to criminals who pretend to be meter readers from City Power over the months.
While the City of Johannesburg is in the process of replacing old clock meters with smart meters, Region C City Power depot manager, David MacMahon, cautioned residents against bogus officials.
The City is changing the old meters as most of them have reached the end of their 10- to 15-year lifespan. They are also trying to do away with the old way of reading meters which needed personnel to conduct door-to-door readings – the new smart meters make readings possible from City Power’s offices.
Numerous residents have however fallen victim to criminals pretending to be meter readers or electricians from City Power over the months. These bogus electricians go as far as cloning City Power’s identity cards and vehicle branding.
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David advised residents on what to look for should they feel suspicious about an electrician’s visit. “City Power personnel should have their identity cards with them. These contain their photos, full names, the name of the company and the individual’s identity number.
All vehicles are supposed to be marked with the logo of the company the employee works for,” he said.
He added that failure to produce an ID card with all the relevant information means that the resident can refuse to let the worker onto the property. The worker may leave a letter with his contact details so that the matter can be followed up.
For any further suspicious activity, he urged residents to contact City Power’s risk control number on 011 490 7000 (a 24/7 helpline) for intervention.
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