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Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has welcomed a proposal to amend its Credit Control Policy to curb non-technical electricity losses through illegal connections and meter tampering.
The Metro said electricity losses resulting from blocked meters at the mid-term of this financial year were about R400 million.
The head of the Electricity and Energy Directorate, Lance Grootboom, said the budget and treasury had proposed to remove the required 10% down payment needed from residents to unblock their accounts.
Grootboom said the second one is to extend the grace period from 45 to 60 days for customers who are in arrears before their accounts or meters are blocked.
The proposed amendments will first have to the Mayoral Committee and then to Council for approval.
"When these amendments are adopted by Council the institution will carefully monitor the electricity losses and the revenue collection to establish whether the amendments to the credit-control policy is assisting with the reduction in losses and improving our revenue collection," Grootboom said.
The Metro said this benefit will only apply to residents who applied for amnesty under the Electricity Tampering Amnesty Programme( ETAP).
It said 25 000 households applied for amnesty during the two phases offered.
Grootboom said the amendments are a win-win situation for the metro and the residents.
"It is apparent that the current coalition government is intent on taking responsibility for good governance while working effectively to improve the lives of residents," he added.
