Understanding Your Rights: A Tenant's Essential Guide to Fair Electricity Billing
As a South African tenant, you have the right to fair billing, FBE, and approved tariffs. Learn the 10 critical rights you must know, including dispute procedures and NERSA regulations.
The Challenge: Complex Billing Relationships
Navigating landlord electricity bills can be complex, but South African tenants have defined rights to ensure fairness and transparency. These include the right to Approved Tariffs, Free Basic Electricity (FBE) if qualified, and the power to dispute charges.
Being informed about your rights is crucial to ensuring you are treated fairly and that your electricity costs are transparent and justifiable.
The Solution: Your 10 Core Rights
1. Right to Fair and Transparent Billing
Your bill must reflect actual consumption with detailed usage, rates, and billing periods. Your landlord must provide an itemised breakdown.
2. Right to Approved Tariffs and Rates
Landlords cannot arbitrarily decide electricity costs. They must charge tariffs aligned with NERSA or municipal authority approvals.
3. Right to Free Basic Electricity (FBE)
If you qualify for FBE under local government programs, your landlord is legally required to pass these benefits to you.
4. Right to Access Usage Data
You have the right to detailed information about your electricity usage through bills, online portals, or mobile apps.
5. Right to Proper Meter Maintenance
You can request a meter test if you believe it's faulty. The landlord must ensure meter accuracy and adjust incorrect charges.
6. Right to Dispute Charges
If your bill seems incorrect, you can dispute charges. Start with your landlord, then escalate to the distributor or NERSA if unresolved.
7. Right to Consistent and Reliable Service
Your landlord must maintain the property's electrical infrastructure and provide an emergency contact for power failures.
8. Right to Fair Disconnection Practices
Disconnection requires proper legal procedures with advance notice and an opportunity to resolve the situation.
The Result: Transparent Utility Costs
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) dictates that all electricity distributors, including landlords with sub-metering systems, must adhere to approved tariff structures.
Augos's Bill Verification service has found that over 20% of tenant billing disputes originate from the incorrect application of municipal tariffs, specifically failing to pass on the latest NERSA-approved rate structures to tenants.
Key Takeaways
Tenants have 10 critical rights including fair billing, approved tariffs, and FBE eligibility
Landlords must adhere to NERSA-approved tariff structures and cannot charge arbitrary rates
Dispute process includes landlord discussion, escalation, and meter testing
Legal procedures and advance notice required before disconnection—it must be a last resort