{"id":158453,"date":"2016-03-17T18:41:16","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T16:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=158453"},"modified":"2016-03-17T18:42:34","modified_gmt":"2016-03-17T16:42:34","slug":"how-to-avoid-electricity-meter-reading-nightmares","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/energy\/158453-how-to-avoid-electricity-meter-reading-nightmares.html","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid electricity meter-reading nightmares"},"content":{"rendered":"

Biznews recently reported<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0about Gauteng resident Dennis de Necker\u2019s 3-person household receiving a monthly electricity bill of R563,380 in May 2015.<\/p>\n

This was a significant increase from the previous month\u2019s R4,658.<\/p>\n

The massive electricity bill followed the installation of a new smartmeter at his house, of which he was not informed.<\/p>\n

The inaccurate measurements did not stop, and de Necker now owes City Power R1.2 million.<\/p>\n

Despite paying R5,000 per month in good faith for his electricity usage, he has now been warned that his services will be disconnected unless he pays the outstanding R1.2 million.<\/p>\n

Attempts to resolve the issue fell on deaf ears. De Necker said that two hours of queuing at the municipal offices in Randburg resulted in a hostile and uncooperative response.<\/p>\n

Other attempts, which included a visit to the Roodepoort municipal offices and writing to City Power, also proved fruitless.<\/p>\n

De Necker now faces the prospect of having his electricity cut off.<\/p>\n

How to prevent electricity meter-reading nightmares<\/h3>\n

De Necker is not alone. Many South Africans have experienced incorrect and often exorbitant bills, Carte Blanche recently revealed.<\/p>\n

Carte Blanche provided the following steps<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0South Africans can take to address suspected overcharging:<\/p>\n