{
  "id": 16568417,
  "title": "eThekwini residents report soaring bills and disconnection threats after smart-meter rollout",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/ethekwini-residents-report-soaring-bills-and-disconnection-threats",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T05:36:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/mercury/news/2026-10-26-ethekwini-residents-report-soaring-bills-and-disconnection-threats-after-smart-meter-rollout/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Residents and ratepayer groups say faulty readings and unresolved billing disputes have led to sharply increased eThekwini water accounts and disconnection threats. The municipality says disputed accounts should not face credit-control action and that faulty meters will be repaired or replaced.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}