Joburg residents using bypassed prepaid meters disconnected and fined R30k
City Power has disconnected hundreds of housing unit’s in Johannesburg with bypassed prepaid meters in less than a week.
The City of Johannesburg is intensifying efforts to tackle illegal connections and the use of bypassed prepaid meters.
The City’s most recent crackdown saw 122 housing unit’s in City Deep with bypassed prepaid meters getting disconnected. According to the power utility’s statement issued on 20 January 2025, this is their second operation in less than a week that saw hundreds of homes disconnected.
HUNDREDS OF HOUSING UNITS WITH BYPASSED PREPAID METERS DISCONNECTED
On 20 January City Power disconnected 122 housing units at the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) in City Deep for illegally bypassing newly installed prepaid meters. The operation follows another similar one which saw 120 housing units disconnected in Kliptown Square.
PENALTIES IMPOSED ON RESIDENTS WHO BYPASSED PREPAID METERS
The power utility said it had imposed penalties on those found with bypassed prepaid meters. These fines range between R14 000 and R30 000.
Its statement explained: “Penalties have been imposed on customers who tampered with their meters. Including fines exceeding R14 000R for single-phase connections. With potential penalties of over R30 000 properties with three-phase connections to cover the cost of replacing the tampered meters.”
CITY POWER EMPLOYEES ALLEGEDLY IMPLICATED BY CUSTOMERS
According to the City’s statement, some of its employees were also implicated by customers during the operation.
“We are following leads against some contractors. Even our own staff members who have been reported by some of these customers to be responsible for the bypassing of some of these meters charging anything between R2 000 and R5 000. We caution the customers against colluding with these criminals as they will be facing the penalties alone and it’s also a criminal offence.”
CITY POWER ‘WILL NOT TOLERATE METER TAMPERING IN ANY FORM’
The City explained that these illegal connections are a safety hazard. It also urged the public to report anyone who demands cash to bypassed prepaid meters.
“City Power has made it clear that we will not tolerate meter tampering in any form. All customers are obligated to pay for the electricity they use. Bypassing meters rot only undermines the integrity of our network. These actions create safety risks for residents within the property, and results in significant revenue loss.
“We urge customers not to pay any technicians, contractors or individual to bypass their meters as this will lead to serious consequences. We strongly advise that they be reported immediately to our City Power Security Risk Management team on 011 490 7900/7911 or send a WhatsApp message to 083 579 4497.”