METER MATE - Ridiculous Prepaid Electricity Charges

[yurii]

We have prepaid electricity meters from Meter Mate. This week they increased prepaid electricity prices from R1.40/kwh to R2.60 /kwh (75% increase). When I asked them about the price increase they said COJ municipality set the prices. I don't really believe that COJ would ever just increase the rate by 75% over night. We live in a radius of 20km from central Johannesburg and people living in surrounding areas pay less than R 1 /kwh.

Any suggestions on how to get rid of these ridiculously high prices from Meter Mate?

[Frikkenator]

That's a massive increase!

From my understanding, Meter Mate sells vouchers to owners/body corporates etc, who then sell the vouchers to the tenants/property owners. Does this sound like you type of scenario? If it is, it may be the middleman trying to make a quick buck.

[yurii]

It seems to be the landlord and the people at Meter Mate robbing us. Not sure what to do about it.

That's a massive increase!

From my understanding, Meter Mate sells vouchers to owners/body corporates etc, who then sell the vouchers to the tenants/property owners. Does this sound like you type of scenario? If it is, it may be the middleman trying to make a quick buck.

[Fudzy]

AFAIK, by law you cannot profit off the sale of electricity. They can however charge you a management/service fee but this should be stated seperately to the amount of units you are buying.

[yurii]

When we purchase electricity, it does not mention anything about the service charges. Oh and I forgot to say that we were forced to have prepaid meters from "Meter Mate" by our landlord.

[noxibox]

Check your local by-laws. It's illegal in Cape Town. There might also be something in the electricity act about it. If it appears illegal, then can make waves, move or do nothing.

[Fudzy]

Was there anything in your lease agreement about the meter?

[Pansyfaust]

How much electricity do you use? Not sure if its true but its been happening to my GF parents in jhb where they are charged more per unit of electricity the more they use in a month. So like you they would spend about R500 to get 400 units of electricity, but if they went with the same R500 3 weeks later in the same month they would only get something like 280 Units. So yeah, check that out as a possibility....

[GreyBush]

How much electricity do you use? Not sure if its true but its been happening to my GF parents in jhb where they are charged more per unit of electricity the more they use in a month. So like you they would spend about R500 to get 400 units of electricity, but if they went with the same R500 3 weeks later in the same month they would only get something like 280 Units. So yeah, check that out as a possibility....

This happens to everyone in the country. Ideally you want to buy electricity so it runs out on the last day of the month and only buy more on the 1st.

[Pansyfaust]

This happens to everyone in the country. Ideally you want to buy electricity so it runs out on the last day of the month and only buy more on the 1st.

Does this happen for the rest of the people not on prepaid then?

[noxibox]

Does this happen for the rest of the people not on prepaid then?

And for water.