BILLING CRISIS: Joburg pensioner gets R437,000 in credits, write-offs after seven-year billing battle
After years of fighting a municipal account he insisted was wrong, Johannesburg pensioner Umesh Daya has seen more than R437,000 in credits and write-offs applied to his account. City Power’s own analysis suggests he should not have been billed for postpaid electricity while buying prepaid power.
Johannesburg pensioner Umesh Daya has seen over R437,000 in credits and write-offs applied to his municipal account after a seven-year billing dispute with City Power. The pensioner's account, which was backdated by three years and involved retrospective charges for electricity and water, had previously shown a balance of R442,908.
City Power's analysis suggests that Daya should not have been billed for postpaid electricity while buying prepaid power, as well as the use of a customer number linked to Daya for prepaid electricity since 2013. While the pensioner is relieved by the dramatic reduction in his outstanding balance, he continues to dispute the remaining amount.
The City Power has announced an "urgent investigation" into the account, and the Ombudsman has intervened in Daya's complaint.
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