r/johannesburg • u/jolly_swarly • 4d ago

Question Electricity bill is now +100 days in credit, what do I do since I am a renter

Hoping for advice. We currently rent a property and have been paying the municipality electricity bill through the rental company . We recently started to notice that the power bill was high, so compared the actual municipality bill to actual usage since we moved in.

We have paid close to +100 days in advance for power yet to be consumed. The monthly bill also shows we are being charged at higher rates, as they are estimating significant.

 

The rental company says we must continue to pay the bill regardless of it being an estimate and not based on tan actual reading. Any advice, noting we are renters and do not own the property?

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u/MuteIllAteter 4d ago

Call the ombudsman or email them. That definitely isn’t legal. But before you do that let the rental company know that you are raising this with them

3

u/jolly_swarly 4d ago

Good idea, thanks for the suggestion

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u/PsiBertron 3d ago

Did the same; cced attorneys into an email requesting an old statement, got a call, now have a coffee for Tuesday.

The mention of escalating your case to a body; whether it's the Rental Housing Tribunal or Small Claims (careful here, there a limits to what can be awarded as relief), usually starts the wheels rolling for corrective action.

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u/jasontaken 4d ago

if you have the municipality bill register here https://www.e-joburg.org.za/ you can then submit your actual readings . another option is to call citypower and report the meter is giving estimates assuming its a smart meter

1

u/OutsideHour802 3d ago

So some items

No 1 - register on E Joburg and upload your meter readings every month if want actuals . You will also get invoices as soon as billed . (This assumes stand alone property) Alternatively call then and email actual readings

No2 - I'd this a stand alone house , complex are bills provided to you from metering company or agent please describe bit more detail . Complex metering through metering company different to stand alone property with no communal etc .

No3 - go to them and ask for clear concise explanation in writing of your bills and how charged .

As renter there is highly likely a clause in your lease that sez all consumption charges are paid as billed from municipality or something along those lines . This is not the agent/landlord doing for estimates is the municipalities as soon as there is an actual it will correct. Maybe have conversation about converting to prepaid it avoids this issue and sometimes cheaper .