Update
GEORGE NEWS - Georgians who are still in the dark about how George Municipality's new electricity tariff structure works can access detailed information on the municipality's web site.
The new tariffs are being implemented from 1 July 2022.
A host of information on the tariffs is available at the following link: Click here
Fixed cost explained
The new tariff structure activates a fixed monthly cost if the maximum capacity need of a household is over 20 Ampere (A). The fixed cost incrementally increases as the capacity need increases to 30A, 40A, 50A or 60A.
George Municipality says that the tariff will be set based on the capacity selected by each consumer, or in the absence of a such choice, a capacity which the municipality will select based on each consumer’s historic consumption.
All fixed charges will be recovered through the normal billing system (monthly accounts) and energy will be sold:
- For pre-payment consumers through the vending system.
- For conventional consumers through the billing system.
The actual capacity limits will however take time to be applied as follows:
For pre-payment consumers - 49500 of George consumers are on the prepaid meter system.
The capacity limits will only be set in the pre-paid meter as part of an ongoing meter audit being undertaken by the municipality - this will be synchronized with the TID Rollover implementation process (see detail below) and other existing programmes in place.
For conventional meter consumers:
Consumers who need to reduce their capacity will be required to call their electrician to reduce the customer side circuit breaker, where the consumer requires capacity less than the actual installed capacity.
Certificate of compliance
A certificate of compliance (COC) together with an application for the new capacity must be emailed to elec.applicatons@george.gov.za.
The link to the form IS HERE.
This application will then be processed, and the capacity charge will be set according to the new capacity selected by the consumer.
If consumers do not change their capacity within the 12 months, the tariff will be set equal to the actual installed capacity by 1 July 2023.
Where no selection has been made by the consumer, the historical consumption will determine the capacity. Consumers are also encouraged to consider conversion to pre-payment.
TID Rollover
The George Municipality is embarking on a pre-paid electricity metering software update for its approximately 49 500 prepaid consumers as the current software will expire in November 2024, not only in George but in the entire country.
Failure to update before the deadline will result in consumers not being able to recharge their meter with the new tokens and therefore will not have power.
Details about the specific dates of updates in various areas in George will be released in due course. Some of the field staff are already updating the meters if they are on site doing a meter change or site inspection.
Customers may phone George Municipality on 044 801 9222 or Ontec for verification on 044 873 5474.
For more information on the TID Rollover please visit the George Municipality’s website to view frequently asked questions (FAQ):
Billing system upgraded
The municipality's current billing system for the electrical tariffs is being upgraded to accommodate the new tariff structure, as takes place annually and is an outsourced process with a service provider appointed on tender.
Amendments to billing structures are updated by the service provider as per the software installed.
On the pre-paid meters the service provider updates the rates on their system to issue new tokens from 1 July 2022 on the revised rates. This is part of the existing contractual agreement.
Previous articles:
- Nuwe kragtarief moedig besparing aan
- How electricity tariffs will work from 1 July 2022
- Managing a limited capacity supply
- Electricity tariffs: How to manage with a limited capacity supply?
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