comments

2026-03-17 17:07:21 +02:00

Elsie

No I do not

All of the above – we should not pay for government blunders

2026-03-17 14:17:21 +02:00

Shaun

No I do not

All of the above – we should not pay for government blunders

2026-03-16 19:13:23 +02:00

Rosen

No I do not

All of the above – we should not pay for government blunders

2026-03-15 23:21:24 +02:00

Dieter

No I do not

All of the above – we should not pay for government blunders

2026-03-09 16:36:52 +02:00

Irene

Yes I do

All of the above – we should not pay for government blunders

Account Number: 7142834276
Premises: Malaga Crescent 16, Tableview
Complainant: Irene (acting with written authority of the property owner)

BACKGROUND

During 2025, Eskom has issued eight (8) estimated invoices and conducted only one (1) actual meter reading.

Eskom has further confirmed in correspondence that:
• No contractor is currently available to perform routine meter readings.
• Access to the locked meter kiosk cannot be provided to the consumer.
• Billing continues monthly based primarily on estimates.

This places the consumer in an untenable position:
• Consumption is not consistently measured.
• The consumer is denied the ability to verify meter readings.
• Binding invoices are issued under threat of disconnection.
• Financial exposure continues to accumulate.

REGULATORY ESCALATION

A complaint has been lodged with NERSA.
NERSA has advised that investigation may take up to 120 days.

Given the ongoing financial prejudice and lack of operational meter verification, waiting four months is unreasonable and perpetuates harm.

QUANTIFIED FINANCIAL PREJUDICE

The only actual 2025 reading (July 2025) reflected consumption of 924 kWh.

January 2025 was estimated at 1,388 kWh — a variance of 464 kWh above the verified baseline.

At an energy rate of approximately R2.6878 per kWh, this equates to a potential overcharge of approximately R1,247 excluding VAT, or approximately R1,434 including VAT for that month alone.

Given that eight months in 2025 were estimated and billing fluctuated between R1,825 and R3,446 per month, the cumulative volatility and reconciliation exposure conservatively exceeds R6,000.

This prejudice arises because Eskom:
• Admits operational incapacity to perform readings.
• Denies meter access.
• Continues issuing enforceable invoices.
• Transfers financial risk to the consumer.

GROUNDS OF COMPLAINT

• Administrative unfairness.
• Failure of operational meter management.
• Denial of verification rights.
• Ongoing financial prejudice.
• Unreasonable delay in regulatory relief.

RELIEF SOUGHT

I respectfully request that the Public Protector:

Investigate Eskom’s meter reading and billing practices.

Direct immediate physical meter verification.

Direct suspension of estimated billing pending operational stability.

Direct reconciliation and audit of all estimated 2025 invoices.

Determine accountability for financial prejudice suffered.