Why no pre-paid electricity for Plett proper?
A reader shared this letter to Bitou Municipality with CXpress – and the municipality responds, below
I have been to your office a number of times regarding pre-paid electricity meters for Plettenberg Bay. As I was informed this morning that the application sent to council for the meters in not going ahead, I would like to know why us residents may not have the option to affordable electricity. It would also be a positive move for the municipality, as there would not be bad debt for unpaid electricity bills.
In almost every other town, municipalities have offered this service to its residents, which is having a very positive effect. In some areas, it is required by law of all new developments to install prepaid meters.
Please can you explain to me why we are not allowed to have pre-paid meters? Many others also feel that we are entitled to a more cost-effective way of living.
Deon Lott, Chief Financial Officer of Bitou Municipality, responds as follows:
Council at its meeting held on August 29, 1994 resolved as follows regarding pre-paid metering: “That pre-paid metering not be introduced into Plettenberg Bay proper for reasons outlined in the note submitted by the Town Treasurer.”
This decision of Council needs to be rescinded, in order to introduce pre-paid metering to all areas. We recently submitted an item to the Mayoral Committee but it was referred back to get clarity on certain technical aspects.
The matter will be re-submitted to the Mayoral Committee and Council in due course.
Source: CXpress