The City will be expediating the process of migration of meter reading functions to improve billing accuracy.

ETHEKWINI City Manager Musa Mbhele has been directed to expedite the implementation of a crucial Council decision regarding the migration of meter reading functions. This is a move seen as essential to improving billing accuracy and stabilising the City’s financial health. This directive, taken at Council recently, comes after significant delays in executing the 2020 Council resolution aimed at consolidating the Electricity and Water and Sanitation Meter Reading Departments under the Finance Cluster.

The 2020 resolution, designed to streamline operations and ensure accurate billing mandated the transfer of meter reading responsibilities to the Finance Cluster, which is tasked with maintaining precise accounts in line with the Municipality’s Credit Control and Debt Collection By-Law and related policies. The process was originally scheduled for completion by June 2021, with the goal of reducing estimated billing and enhancing the overall billing system. However, the migration has faced internal challenges that have stalled progress.

These delays have contributed to several ongoing issues, including increasing the Municipality’s debtors’ book and adversely affecting collection rates. A Service Level Agreement will be established between the Trading Services and the Finance Cluster, outlining the terms and conditions of the migration process.