Understanding how to read a municipal account is crucial for homeowners and businesses alike. Monthly, you may receive a municipal account from your supply authority – or municipality- such as eThekwini, the City of Johannesburg, the City of Cape Town or directly from Eskom for an example.
Municipal accounts provide vital information about utility usage, billing details, and financial obligations. In this blog post, we will break down the components of a municipal account and guide you through the process of comprehending and understanding your municipal account.
Meter Readings, Reading Period, and Meter Numbers
Municipal accounts should be based on actual meter readings, with both the opening or start reading and a closing or end reading. These readings, along with the corresponding dates, determine your reading period and your consumption over the given period.
It is important to ensure that your meter readings are sequential, with the end reading following on from the start reading. Additionally, the reading period should ideally be kept between 30 or 31 days to ensure consistency in billing.
It is crucial to ensure that your meter numbers correspond with the specific utility being consumed. For example, separate meter numbers will appear for water, electricity, gas or other utilities. The meter number should correspond to the bulk meter that supplies the property with the specific utility you are being charged for.
Verifying the accuracy of the meter numbers helps to ensure that you are being billed correctly.
Billing Details
The billing details section presents the charges associated with each utility service. It includes the tariff applied per unit consumed, any additional fees or surcharges, and the total cost.
Paying close attention to these details helps to ensure accurate billing and identifies any discrepancies that need to be addressed by the municipality.
Submitting Meter Readings
Although municipalities are required, by law, to obtain official and actual meter readings, there may be instances when they estimate readings. Estimations can lead to accounting errors and inflated billing, as they may not accurately reflect your consumption.
To address this, many municipalities now encourage consumers to submit their own meter readings if the municipality fails to record accurate readings within the given meter reading period.
When submitting readings to your municipality, it’s essential to supply a clear photo of the meter that reflects both the reading and the meter number. This helps ensure accuracy and eliminates potential discrepancies.
Reading a municipal account may seem daunting at first, but by understanding the different sections and their significance, you can confidently navigate through the details. By monitoring your utility usage, verifying billing accuracy, and staying on top of payment obligations, you can maintain control over your finances. Do you need help in navigating your municipal account? Contact Oxers today on help@oxers.co.za or 011 678 5461 for all your utility management needs.