City Power to begin meter audits across Johannesburg starting Monday, 14 July 2025, marking a significant step in tackling electricity theft and enhancing service delivery. This audit will cover both residential and business premises, focusing on areas with high rates of illegal connections and tampered meters. The initiative seeks to reduce losses, recover outstanding debts, and ensure fair billing for all consumers.
The Urgency Behind the Meter Audits
Electricity theft and inaccurate billing have become significant challenges for City Power, resulting in millions of rands lost annually. The utility company aims to resolve these issues through a comprehensive audit, which will target meters that have been bypassed or tampered with, often leading to inflated electricity bills.
Isaac Mangena, General Manager of City Power, explained, “This initiative is crucial for identifying and addressing illegal connections and ensuring that consumers are billed correctly for their usage.” The audit will focus on specific Johannesburg areas, including high-risk zones like Hursthill and Auckland Park, where electricity theft has been most prevalent.
ALSO READ: City Power Offers Free 50kWh Electricity to Eligible Johannesburg Residents – Register Now
City Power’s audit initiative follows a broader strategy to recover over R1.6 billion in unpaid electricity bills. The company has pledged to crack down on defaulters and irregularities that contribute to the city’s electricity supply challenges.
In an official statement, City Power further clarified that the audits would primarily target commercial businesses, households, and informal settlements that have been linked to electricity theft and billing discrepancies. The utility highlighted that the audits are part of an ongoing effort to enhance infrastructure and reduce power losses caused by illegal connections. “We aim to restore fairness in billing while ensuring that everyone is billed for what they consume,” said Mangena.
Key Insights and Expert Opinions on the Audit Process
The meter audits come at a time when City Power is under pressure to improve its service delivery and financial sustainability. According to energy analyst Chris Yelland, “The audit is an essential step in modernising City Power’s infrastructure and ensuring that all users are accurately billed for their electricity consumption.” Yelland has long advocated for better metering systems and efficient management of resources to reduce the reliance on manual interventions.
The initiative also highlights the need for improved monitoring and infrastructure. Malcolm de Lange, General Manager at the Hursthill Service Delivery Centre, noted, “By addressing these issues, we are not only recovering lost revenue but also ensuring that critical infrastructure is maintained and improved, benefiting all consumers.”
City Power’s focus is not only on the immediate recovery of funds but also on preventing future losses. The auditing process will include a comprehensive check of both prepaid and postpaid meters, ensuring that all consumers are correctly metered and billed according to their usage. This is an essential move in light of Johannesburg’s rapid population growth and the increasing demand for reliable power supply.
Tackling Illegal Connections and Unpaid Bills
The City Power meter audits are part of a larger campaign to address the city’s electricity debt crisis. According to the utility, many of the city’s electricity supply challenges are due to illegal connections and non-payment of electricity bills. A significant portion of the R1.6 billion owed to City Power comes from businesses and residential areas with high rates of bypassed or tampered meters.
City Power’s approach to tackling this issue is multi-faceted. In addition to the meter audits, the utility will step up disconnections and enforcement measures for those found guilty of electricity theft. “We are also following up on leads provided by residents regarding contractors and even our staff members who may be involved in tampering or bypassing meters,” said Mangena.
ALSO READ: The Department of Home Affairs Will Launch Two New Visas in SA
The utility has made it clear that it is taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal connections, with disconnections planned for offenders who refuse to comply with regulations. City Power has further committed to reinvesting the recovered funds into improving the city’s electricity infrastructure and reducing power outages in affected areas.
How the Audit Will Impact Consumers
Consumers should expect some disruption as the audits are carried out. However, City Power has assured the public that the audits will be conducted in a way that minimizes inconvenience. “We ask that residents cooperate with our teams during the auditing process. We are committed to ensuring that all residents benefit from accurate billing and improved service,” said de Lange.
The audits will include physical inspections of meters, verification of billing records, and checks for illegal connections. The initiative is expected to last several weeks, with updates provided regularly through official channels. City Power has also advised residents to ensure that their meters are accessible for inspection, particularly those in informal settlements where access may be limited.
The Road Ahead for City Power
The commencement of the meter audits is just one part of City Power’s broader efforts to ensure a more sustainable and efficient electricity supply for Johannesburg. As the utility moves forward with this initiative, it will continue to prioritise customer service and transparency. City Power has also committed to using the recovered funds to improve the city’s power grid, address infrastructure deficits, and reduce the occurrence of power outages.
For further information or to report any issues regarding illegal connections, residents are encouraged to contact City Power’s Security Risk Management team at 011 490 7900 or via WhatsApp at 083 579 4497.
ALSO READ: Rand Water Announces Planned Water Outage From 30 Jun – 21 July: Full List of Affected Areas
As City Power begins its meter audits across Johannesburg, the focus remains on ensuring accurate billing, recovering unpaid debts, and tackling the growing issue of electricity theft. While the process may cause some inconvenience, it is essential for the long-term sustainability of Johannesburg’s electricity infrastructure. The initiative not only seeks to improve billing accuracy but also aims to provide a fairer and more reliable service to all residents.
