Problems with smart meter programme and various other problems

A Letter from MRS M E F COLLINS – GENERAL MANAGER HUIS SIëSTA (3 July 2019)

 On the 19 th June 2019 we wrote a letter to you enquiring about the future of the Smart Meters installed in our Retirement centre ( about 400 meters!)

It worked perfectly well for the people in Herfsoord and just because some people could not by pass the meters much were said about the system!

We requested to  have feedback as to what will happen in future with the smart meters – unfortunately it seems as if Emfuleni Local Municipality do not care to even answer one simple letter. We are a vendor selling Electricity to residents as well

About two days ago we could still sell electricity but it did not reflect on the smart meters at all. From yesterday no electricity could be sold nor could any other vendor we contacted sell electricity on smart meters.

We called the call office 17 times without any success.

We thereafter called your office as well as Mr Anton Henning to no avail.  We were told that Mr Henning has the secret number to reset the modem of the smart meters.

We then called councilor Gerda Senekal who explained about the re setting of the modem and the reasons why the smart meters wasn’t in operation. She said it will be sorted out yesterday.

This morning 12 calls were made to the smart meter call office, 13 to Mr Anton Henning and another 9 to your office without success.

There is residents who were discharged from hospital and needs oxygen – how must I explain to them that our Municipality is not willing and able to help?? Who will take responsibility if an elderly person die as a result of this?

I once again phoned all the concerned people – to no avail – everyone seems to be in a meeting??

We feel that meetings without results is worth nothing to the residents of the Vaal Triangle.

We have no other option as to bypass the meters. People want to buy electricity and are unable to do so as all the smart meter vendor’s are blocked.

If no body come to open the electrical boxes we will have no option but will have to open it ourselves.

The pity is that our centre’s monthly bill of R500 000 plus is paid promptly every month and the service we got from EMF is of well below standard.

We complained about the servicing of the electrical sub stations since 2015 and NOTHING has so far been done to that as well.

We are desperate , due to the fact that we are responsible for the well being of over 600 elderly people and we operate in accordance of legislation ( Act 13 of 2006 – Act on Elderly People)

We can’t see how the elderly can sustain the conditions of living in this town ( some week without water – now 3 days without electricity for which they paid)

I hope that somehow you will find the time to read and reply to this letter??

Yours faithfully

MRS M E F COLLINS

GENERAL MANAGER

We have send sms to the smart meter people, the council and the councilor to the effect that we will break the locks and by pass the meters if no reply by 14h00  today.

Tel 0732148646