City Power’s R200 surcharge is here to stay, says Gwamanda
Gwamanda said these tariffs had already been approved by NERSA, and formed part of the city’s legislation.
A prepaid electricity meter and an electricity mains unit. Picture: @CityofCT/X
JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda says it's unlikely the city will be reviewing the R200 surcharge any time soon, as it forms part of the municipal budget.
As of this month, Joburg City Power began charging prepaid meter clients a monthly network and service fee of R200.
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The move sparked public outcry from residents, leading to Finance MMC Dada Morero announcing last week that the council would be reviewing the surcharge.
However, Gwamanda said these tariffs had already been approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), and formed part of the city’s legislation.
“It would then make it difficult at this point, unless we look into the adjustment budget for any form of review, which would come sometime next year. But in the immediate term, it forms part of the current budget, and reviewing it would mean the city does not have a budget, and we would have to reverse the entire process, including the council resolution that would have passed this R200 surcharge into legislation.”