By Tshepiso Mogotsi
JOHANNESBURG residents can now read their own water and electricity meters and then relay those readings to the City Council via the Internet.
This new technology will enable residents to keep a check on their own electricity and water consumption and act as a record for the meter readings.
"The system has been introduced to make sure residents receive accurate water and electricity bills," said the City's director of information technology, Heather Fuller.
The on-line service will be used for billing purposes. Official meter readers will verify on-line readings submitted by residents before any bills are sent out.
Residents wishing to use the system must register as on-line users and complete the registration form on the website. A personal information number (PIN) will be printed on residents' monthly statements, below the account number. This number can then be changed to a password chosen by the residents once the link has been established.
Security measures have been put into place, with the system requiring the identity number of the person reading the meter together with the chosen password.
A step-by-step guide on how to read the water and electricity meters is available on the Johannesburg website.
