Fix the Electricity Department, Fix the Tariffs

Buffalo City Metro (BCM) residents and businesses are burdened by excessive electricity tariffs. The DA in BCM calls for a turnaround strategy for the municipal electricity department, so that residents and businesses no longer bear the costs of inefficiencies and waste.

A well-managed electricity department will lead to lower tariffs, providing savings for struggling residents and helping businesses continue to operate and expand, which in turn will create more jobs.

Proposed Solutions:

  • Increase the maintenance and refurbishment of electricity infrastructure.
  • Expand the number and capacity of Revenue Protection teams.
  • Establish a dedicated law enforcement unit for Revenue Protection.
  • Replace legally bypassed electricity meters with prepaid meters by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
  • If a meter is legally bypassed, a new prepaid meter must be installed within three working days.
  • BCM must ensure there is an adequate supply of prepaid meters in stock for immediate replacement when required.
  • Provide prepaid electricity meters to all indigent grant recipients, with installation to be carried out by BCM at no cost to the beneficiaries.
  • Increase public awareness campaigns to encourage eligible individuals to register for indigent electricity allocations.
  • Form a task team, including BCM officials, SAPS, private sector representatives, and other relevant departments, to address and prevent electricity theft across all communities.
  • Investigate ways to record electricity consumption from illegal connections in both formal and informal settlements separately from non-technical losses. This will allow for solutions to subsidise this consumption, especially where indigent consumers are involved, through National Government Equitable Share funding, rather than passing these costs onto other consumers as non-technical losses.
  • Revise BCM bylaws to accommodate the above remedial actions.

This petition will be handed in to the BCM City manager.

2720 supporters

2280 needed to reach 5000

A well-managed electricity department will lead to lower tariffs, providing savings for struggling residents and helping businesses continue to operate and expand, which in turn will create more jobs.

Proposed Solutions:

  • Increase the maintenance and refurbishment of electricity infrastructure.
  • Expand the number and capacity of Revenue Protection teams.
  • Establish a dedicated law enforcement unit for Revenue Protection.
  • Replace legally bypassed electricity meters with prepaid meters by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
  • If a meter is legally bypassed, a new prepaid meter must be installed within three working days.
  • BCM must ensure there is an adequate supply of prepaid meters in stock for immediate replacement when required.
  • Provide prepaid electricity meters to all indigent grant recipients, with installation to be carried out by BCM at no cost to the beneficiaries.
  • Increase public awareness campaigns to encourage eligible individuals to register for indigent electricity allocations.
  • Form a task team, including BCM officials, SAPS, private sector representatives, and other relevant departments, to address and prevent electricity theft across all communities.
  • Investigate ways to record electricity consumption from illegal connections in both formal and informal settlements separately from non-technical losses. This will allow for solutions to subsidise this consumption, especially where indigent consumers are involved, through National Government Equitable Share funding, rather than passing these costs onto other consumers as non-technical losses.
  • Revise BCM bylaws to accommodate the above remedial actions.

This petition will be handed in to the BCM City manager.