I am also a victim of the smart meter

Lynda Hasert from Wilropark writes:

I am yet another victim of the Joburg Municipality “new meters”.

Possibly in May someone phoned me and said they had to cut off the power for 10 minutes. After this he phoned to say the power was on again and he would be leaving a card on my gate. This turned out to be a card for a pre-paid meter which we have never used as I pay Joburg on time every month for the correct amount stated on the invoice.

Having paid our 7 December bill for R1800, we have just received yet another invoice for payment on 7 December for an amount of R8 481.

I must add by way of explanation that we are pensioners and have solar heating to assist with hot water and also a gas hob and a gas heater.

I phoned the call centre and polite man told me that we had a new meter installed in May but that all our invoices since then had been estimated were now charging me for the excess (which works out at R1000 more per month than our normal average bill).

I hit the roof and said if that sum were correct we could not afford to pay it and he advised me that I could go into the Civic Centre.

I, and I am sure the majority of people have witnessed for years, the incompetence of Joburg Municipality. We need accurate billing and competent service. We certainly do not need to see full page adverts by the mayor Tau telling us how much they are doing for us. We know they are not.

I wrote previously around June to complain that someone was switching off our electricity at the box. This happened twice. It does not look like a new box, rather like someone has kicked it with a boot. It is rusty and the cover is on the ground. Anyone can tamper with it.

Please can we go back to Roodepoort Municipality!