Prepaid Electricity rip-off.

[CADman]

Hi all,

I recently moved into a new apartment complex and I noticed that I was getting very few units of electricty for a lot of money. Upon further investigation I found out that the cost per unit of the prepaid meter is set far higher than Eskom's/Municipality's rate.

Just to give you an idea, I bought a voucher for R200 and only received 26.4 units. That's R7.58 per unit!

I contacted the prepaid metering company (Citiq), who said they do not set the rates. I then contacted the rental office and the estate agent who directed me to a guy who is in-charge of the prepaid meter installation and power consumption for the complex. He (the prepaid guy) tells me it's because the solar geyser is connected to a supplementary main supply which also draws power, therefore they have to adjust the rate to make up for that cost. He thinks he is "being fair" and recouping their expenses and that I shouldn't complain because the charges are so low due to complex having gas stoves and solar geysers.

There is no mention of such costs in my rental lease and now I'm being told that if I don't like it, I should move out. What can I do? Who can I complain to? NERSA site is broken, Eskom won't listen...

I live on my own in a single bedroom apartment with a gas stove and solar geyser and my electricity is costing me around R800 p/m. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[thehuman]

Hi all,

I recently moved into a new apartment complex and I noticed that I was getting very few units of electricty for a lot of money. Upon further investigation I found out that the cost per unit of the prepaid meter is set far higher than Eskom's/Municipality's rate.

Just to give you an idea, I bought a voucher for R200 and only received 26.4 units. That's R7.58 per unit!

I contacted the prepaid metering company (Citiq), who said they do not set the rates. I then contacted the rental office and the estate agent who directed me to a guy who is in-charge of the prepaid meter installation and power consumption for the complex. He (the prepaid guy) tells me it's because the solar geyser is connected to a supplementary main supply which also draws power, therefore they have to adjust the rate to make up for that cost. He thinks he is "being fair" and recouping their expenses and that I shouldn't complain because the charges are so low due to complex having gas stoves and solar geysers.

There is no mention of such costs in my rental lease and now I'm being told that if I don't like it, I should move out. What can I do? Who can I complain to? NERSA site is broken, Eskom won't listen...

I live on my own in a single bedroom apartment with a gas stove and solar geyser and my electricity is costing me around R800 p/m. Any advice would be appreciated.

Report them to nersa ?
http://www.nersa.org.za/Admin/Docum...idelines/Guidelines on Electricity Resale.pdf

 

[LCBXX]

That sounds dodge. I bought prepaid this morning and got 311.8 units for R500. That said, a month or so ago the same money bought 350 units.

 

[Thor]

That is illegal, get all the residents to sign a thing and then report them (the prepaid guy).

 

[Vernon]

That sounds dodge. I bought prepaid this morning and got 311.8 units for R500. That said, a month or so ago the same money bought 350 units.

True.
I usually buy R600 a month which was for 419,1 units. Now the same gets me only 371.1.

 

[Anti-Chris]

Ive got the same issue with my landlord and ideal prepaid... But decided to bare with it for the next couple of months since I am buying the place, then I will just chuck the meter out.
But yes, it is illegal since they are not allowed to charge more than what they get it for.

 

[twaatie]

Ive got the same issue with my landlord and ideal prepaid... But decided to bare with it for the next couple of months since I am buying the place, then I will just chuck the meter out.
But yes, it is illegal since they are not allowed to charge more than what they get it for.

Can you "chuck" the meter out?

I always assumed once a meter is installed it's permanent

 

[cr@zydude]

This is the latest property rental scam. I put it in the same area as lp gas dealers who charge above the maximum retail price.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

this is news to me as well,
will check at the end of the month when I reload the meter

mine is with (prepaidmeters.co.za)

 

[isie]

Hi all,

I recently moved into a new apartment complex and I noticed that I was getting very few units of electricty for a lot of money. Upon further investigation I found out that the cost per unit of the prepaid meter is set far higher than Eskom's/Municipality's rate.

Just to give you an idea, I bought a voucher for R200 and only received 26.4 units. That's R7.58 per unit!

Most private prepaid in complexes are higher then municipal rates because the complexes total rate ends up higher but that is like R2 maybe R3 a unit i can say even R4 but not this price.
This is freaking insane!

I contacted the prepaid metering company (Citiq), who said they do not set the rates. I then contacted the rental office and the estate agent who directed me to a guy who is in-charge of the prepaid meter installation and power consumption for the complex. He (the prepaid guy) tells me it's because the solar geyser is connected to a supplementary main supply which also draws power, therefore they have to adjust the rate to make up for that cost.

WTF does that Solar Geyser have to do with the cost - if its part of your rental you will pay the usage not 3 times the cost!

He thinks he is "being fair" and recouping their expenses and that I shouldn't complain because the charges are so low due to complex having gas stoves and solar geysers.

Are you paying for the Gas usage on a separate meter ?

There is no mention of such costs in my rental lease and now I'm being told that if I don't like it, I should move out. What can I do? Who can I complain to? NERSA site is broken, Eskom won't listen...

How come no one else in the apartment complain?

I live on my own in a single bedroom apartment with a gas stove and solar geyser and my electricity is costing me around R800 p/m. Any advice would be appreciated.

MOVE!

 

[ArmatageShanks]

Somewhere on here there is a thread discussing a cour case about exactly this scenario.

Long story short it is mostly illegal.

 

[CADman]

Most private prepaid in complexes are higher then municipal rates because the complexes total rate ends up higher but that is like R2 maybe R3 a unit i can say even R4 but not this price.
This is freaking insane!

As far as I know it's illegal for any complex to charge higher than the rate that a licensed provider (i.e. Eskom, City Power etc.) charges. The principle manager of the property is not allowed to make a profit on the cost of electricity.
They are supposed to make their costs for any additional charges or maintenance through the rental amount paid. You can only be charged for the electricity you use.

WTF does that Solar Geyser have to do with the cost - if its part of your rental you will pay the usage not 3 times the cost!

He was giving me some BS story about how the Solar Geysers are attached to a main supply that isn't tied to my meter in the apartment etc, so he increases the charges to pay for that.

Are you paying for the Gas usage on a separate meter ?

They supply the gas cylinder, we pay for the refills. I have no issues with this.

How come no one else in the apartment complain?

Idk. People sometimes just don't know or just give up fighting and pay. Will ask around.

 

[isie]

As far as I know it's illegal for any complex to charge higher than the rate that a licensed provider (i.e. Eskom, City Power etc.) charges. The principle manager of the property is not allowed to make a profit on the cost of electricity.
They are supposed to make their costs for any additional charges or maintenance through the rental amount paid. You can only be charged for the electricity you use.

Its a complicated affair they cannot make a profit but need to cover their costs so they are slightly higher but not the rate that you paying

He was giving me some BS story about how the Solar Geysers are attached to a main supply that isn't tied to my meter in the apartment etc, so he increases the charges to pay for that.

That sounds like total BS - so theoretically you could set it to highest temp and have it run on back up power all day and night and not worry about the cost
Is there a geyser switch on your DB Board?

They supply the gas cylinder, we pay for the refills. I have no issues with this.

So More BS - there is no cost for them to recoup - you are paying for the gas

Idk. People sometimes just don't know or just give up fighting and pay. Will ask around.

They must be earning a **** load honestly to not fight or notice

 

[namzsteve]

That sounds dodge. I bought prepaid this morning and got 311.8 units for R500. That said, a month or so ago the same money bought 350 units.

Holy s#it, R500 gives me 202 units, and R70 of that goes to charges. Area dependant I guess. I'm in the Fourways areas.

 

[isie]

Holy s#it, R500 gives me 202 units, and R70 of that goes to charges. Area dependant I guess. I'm in the Fourways areas.

eskom or city power or private?

 

[namzsteve]

eskom or city power or private?

City power I think, with Ideal Prepaid.

 

[isie]

City power I think, with Ideal Prepaid.

Ideal Prepaid so its private.

So like R2.00-R2.50 a KWH Still not bad compared to the OP!

 

[chefdude98]

I feel like the area I reside in is really expensive.

Purchased R150 voucher today.
Amount : R130.43
Vat : R19.57

Units : 67.8kWh.

 

[chefdude98]

The tumble dryer & dishwasher are using the most electricity.

 

[bwana]

They supply the gas cylinder, we pay for the refills. I have no issues with this.

How much are you paying for gas? There is a maximum amount that they are allowed to charge per kg.