Electricity rates the same all over George

GEORGE NEWS - Indigent households pay a lower electricity tariff than the average consumer, but how does the municipality administrate this?

Some residents are under the impression that if you buy electricity in certain neighbourhoods, you automatically receive more units per rand spent, but this is not the case.

According to the municipality's senior communications officer Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, indigent consumers have to register under their own prepaid meter number to enjoy the subsidy.

When they buy electricity, the meter number will be billed at the lower tariff.

Only persons meeting all the criteria will be eligible to register for the lower tariff. They must apply by completing the prescribed form and submitting all the relevant documentation pertaining to their income.

This means the municipality to a great extent relies on the honesty of consumers when declaring their financial status, but not all consumers are always truthful.

Wilderness resident Peter Massyn complained to George Herald that the municipality's indigent tariff is not always being applied fairly. An acquaintance of his who earns, according to him, a "decent income" of R9 000 per month, benefits from this cheaper tariff.

"He buys his electricity in Thembalethu and gets more units than I who buy in Wilderness. An elderly friend of mine from Hoekwil, who lives off a Sassa grant and often suffers to get through the month, also pays the higher tariff in Hoekwil. Such unfairness should be stopped."

Not true

The claim of benefiting from cheaper electricity rates if purchased in Thembalethu, was refuted by the George Herald. The journalist, who normally buys electricity online, tested the allegation by buying electricity from a vendor in Thembalethu and received the usual amount of units for her buck.

Mangqwengqwe said the complainant and the Hoekwil consumer may apply for the indigent subsidy. If they meet the criteria, they will be registered for the cheaper tariff.

"It must be noted that the municipal application process does have a number of checks and balances in place and information provided is vetted as with any other subsidy application."

The criteria are as follows:

• The applicant's income level must not exceed the limit determined by Council - that is twice the Sassa pension amount.

• Consumption levels must not exceed 400 kwh of electricity and 15 kl of water per month.

• The applicant must not have more than one property in South Africa and must occupy the property on a full time basis.

• The property must be used for residential purposes only.

With regard to the consumer who seems to benefit unfairly from the indigent tariff, Mangqwengqwe said the municipality will do an inspection if the person's details are supplied.

At the indigent tariff, R30 buys 15 units.