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Administrative process for leaving the grid?
- Thread starter Bewlen
- Start date
DapperDanMan
Honorary Master
"I give myself permission to leave the grid." - @RonSwanson
It might not be the right way to do it, but I've heard of people who just stopped paying and waited for the municipality to disconnect them for non-payment.
Seems like the admin is a bit of a schlep following the correct process and there are some steep costs involved.
Bewlen
Executive Member
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The problem would be that you would be disconnected from water supply as well.
wingnut771
Honorary Master
Just pay the outstanding money owed minus the reconnection fee when sold. When new owner takes occupation they connect for free?
Mmm.. not sure all im saying is dont do something to hastily that cannot be easily reversed.
itareanlnotani
Executive Member
No, they legally cannot cut off water.
They can limit water, but never cut it off.
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Some muni's won't let you leave the grid.
Cape Town is one.
i.e. you can checkout anytime you like, but you can never leave, as they'll still charge you an availability fee regardless of whether you use the grid or not.
If you want to get off the grid completely, your best bet is buying a property or plot with no existing connection, and not connecting. Bit excessive to avoid paying, but really the only option in some area's.
Last edited:
Lupus
Honorary Master
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cool let me just go to the person staying on my dead MIL estate and tell them that CoJ cannot cut off their water...
ScottulusMaximus
Honorary Master
itareanlnotani
Executive Member
Is it illegal for a municipality to disconnect water? - Access to Water
The South African Constitution guarantees a right of access to water. This right can be interpreted to mean many different things dependent on the context.
www.golegal.co.za
In an unreported case before the Gauteng Local Division (Johannesburg Division) of the High Court, known as Body Corporate of Edina Court v City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, case number 2017/09362, the court declared that it was unlawful for a municipality to terminate the supply of the 6 free kilolitres afforded by the City to each household per 30.4 day month.
This has set a precedent that can be used by persons who have been disconnected entirely and are no longer receiving their free water supply...
So I rest my, uh, case!
RedViking
Nord of the South
I don't think non-payment is the correct way to do it. You set yourself up for further issues further down.
I also don't think you will be able to get completely disconnected. The infrastructure is already there and they will want that monthly connection fee and levies.
Ha! And soon a R1000 electricity connection fee, whether you use Eskom or not.
Either way, its just another tax and the goodluck getting rid of it.
I also don't think you will be able to get completely disconnected. The infrastructure is already there and they will want that monthly connection fee and levies.
Ha! And soon a R1000 electricity connection fee, whether you use Eskom or not.
Either way, its just another tax and the goodluck getting rid of it.
WollieVerstege
Expert Member
For me it is like putting in a pool, any future buyer will either think it is awesome or a hassle costing extra money. So like with anything it will be about finding the right buyer or compromising on price.
WollieVerstege
Expert Member
Nope, completely off grid in CoCT and not paying any connection fee either.
Neighbour down the road had the city remove his connection a few months ago, and now also pays no fee.
Unless you can point me to an actual bylaw that states this, I am going to have file this under urban legend.
Lupus
Honorary Master
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Yet they are still doing it.Is it illegal for a municipality to disconnect water? - Access to Water
The South African Constitution guarantees a right of access to water. This right can be interpreted to mean many different things dependent on the context.
In an unreported case before the Gauteng Local Division (Johannesburg Division) of the High Court, known as Body Corporate of Edina Court v City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, case number 2017/09362, the court declared that it was unlawful for a municipality to terminate the supply of the 6 free kilolitres afforded by the City to each household per 30.4 day month.
This has set a precedent that can be used by persons who have been disconnected entirely and are no longer receiving their free water supply...
So I rest my, uh, case!
Though I do see they are now saying it's a restricted flow, hmm interesting wonder why they cut the house off then.
itareanlnotani
Executive Member
I'm completely offgrid and not paying a connection fee either, although I never had a grid connection in the first place.
CoCT doesn't like that though.
I don't need to repeat myself on this, I have posted proof with City of Cape Town PDF's previously.
Go search, I have provided the exact info.
RedViking
Nord of the South
Yap. If it has a pool. I am not interested. Unless they bring down the price so it can be removed and filled.
/people with kids looking at me skeef
RedViking
Nord of the South
This is key and a completely different situation.
Don't have one, no need to get one. But yeah, government gonna want the bucks.
RedViking
Nord of the South
How did they "remove" it? Did they charge for the labour and waste of infrastructure?