As new smart meter installations increase in Emfuleni, a major crackdown starts this week to curb smart meter electricity bypasses – with consumers facing a R10 000 fine per bypass and a power cut until its paid.
An estimated 110 smart meter accounts have been bypassed at the time of publication.
At least two syndicates operating in Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging have been identified by Vaalweekblad and smart meter service provider BXC SA – doing bypasses for payment, including former electrical contractors whose names are already known.
Zero tolerance for bypasses on smart meters is being implemented by BXC SA and the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) from today (Monday) and features several punitive and costly steps for consumers found with bypasses.
It is estimated that out of about 3 00 smart meters installed in Emfuleni households and businesses, about 120 are already bypassed, leading to revenue losses of about R350 000 for the cash-strapped municipality.
However, due to ongoing active measures by BXC, this number is tiny relative to the proportion of traditional pre-paid meters that are bypassed in Emfuleni, with only about 19 000 out of about 70 000 pre-paid meters producing revenue for the municipality.
Emfuleni’s smart meter programme is in a vast expansion phase in both suburbs and townships – for both water and electricity smart meters – and is being implemented alongside a zero-tolerance policy for bypasses.
Unlike traditional pre-paid meters, smart meters can instantly pick up if an account is bypassed.
Those found to have bypassed their accounts face the following sanctions and punitive steps:
* R10 000 fine
* Electricity will be cut until the fine is paid
* The account holder must pay for the stolen electricity
* Costs to fix the damaged electricity infrastructure must be paid by the account holder
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