THE Financial Department of the Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality has received many queries relating to August 2022 municipal accounts with regard to the water tariff charges, and have therefore given a breakdown of a municipal account to answer some of these queries, and hopefully bring some clarity to consumers.
Firstly, some municipal consumers have a misperception that they were billed for water from 17 September 2021. The date “17/09/2021” is however only the date when the municipality amended its water tariffs from drought tariffs to normal water tariffs. Normal water tariffs are currently valid.
Secondly, the consumption period spans over two financial years – the previous financial year that ended on 30 June 2022 when the old tariffs were valid, and the new financial year from 1 July with the new tariffs.
The new financial year in all municipalities with the new tariffs approved in the annual budget is valid from 1 July.
Annually, with the commencement of the new financial year (1 July), water consumption in the old financial year (i.e. until 30 June 2022) is billed on the tariffs of the previous financial year, and water consumption in the new financial year (i.e. from 01 July 2022) is being billed at newly approved tariffs.
The tariffs charged currently are therefore the normal water tariffs for the financial year 2021/ 2022.
For example, if the consumption period is from 21/06/2022 – 20/07/22 it will differ from area to area, depending on when the meter was read.
The consumption period on the August municipal accounts spans over two financial years, so it would be wrong of the municipality to bill the total consumption only to the new financial year’s tariffs.
The date 01/07/2022 shows the consumption on the new water tariffs for the 2022/2023 financial year and is also billed on the mentioned tariffs. This is therefore the difference between the two dates, consumption and tariffs on consumer accounts.
With the increase in tariffs, clients will possibly experience that their bills are more than usual because billing is conducted, according to what the consumer’s consumption is.
• Clients can submit their readings via WhatsApp to 072 6263 296 before the 10th of every month. The account number, name, address and date read must accompany the readings.
• All services to deliver queries can be reported to the customer department at tel 044 203 3090 during office hours, and after hours at tel 044 203 7800.
