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Mduduzi M

1 reviews | Active since Oct 2011

10 Jun 2026, 15:38

Excessive Billing/Overcharging

Protea Metering has billed me over R3,000 for a unit with a tenant and over R2,000 for a VACANT unit with no occupants. Both amounts are far above historical billing. This coincides exactly with their contract expiring July 2026 and them reinstalling communication devices - clearly backdated catch-up billing to maximize revenue before exit. I submitted a formal written objection last Friday. No response. I called today and spoke to Sean in billing who promised to respond. Still nothing. This matches EXACTLY what other residents on HelloPeter are reporting. Systemic overcharging and non-response is clearly their standard practice. I am now reporting to NERSA, NCC, and CGSO. Protea Metering - respond to my email urgently.

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Replies (9)
Protea Metering
Protea Metering's reply11 Jun 2026, 08:00
Official
Good day

Protea Metering does not do as we please.  Electricity- and water funds are collected on behalf of the Body Corporate for them to be able to pay the Council bulk account.

Yes, indeed, after our services were terminated, we were approached again to continue with the reading service and to pick up from where we left, because there was no reading service provider who was ready to take over the service.  The billing from the bulk meters did not stop, and neither did tenants stop using services after our termination.

We were therefore able to simply continue with the billing according to the actual readings, for what tenants are actually consuming.

We do not know what tenant movements are, and we are simply recording actual readings. 

      | Unit 97  |   |   |   |   |
 | 01/06/2026  | Invoice                                                | INV*  | R1 232.79   | R0.00      | R374.80
| 01/06/2026  | Shared Serices                                   | INV*  | R21.43        | R0.00      | R407.15

 Consumption since latest invoiceMeterTariffRead DateStart ReadLatest ReadingDaysUsageUnitsAmount
*** | COJ Water Dom LL crw | 08/06/2026 12:28:00 | 775 | 778.599 | 38 | 3.599 | KLw | R0.00
*** | COJ Ener Dom LL crw sp | 11/06/2026 00:00:00 | 35768 | 35825.806 | 10 | 57.806 | KWH | R215.11
Shared Services @ | R5.82 per day | 11/06/2026 00:00:00 |   |   | 11 |   | R | R64.05 

 
| Unit 98  |   |   |   |   |
| 01/06/2026  | Invoice                 | INV*  | R2 242.48  | R0.00  | R1 474.42
 | 01/06/2026  | Shared Serices  | INV*  | R21.43  | R0.00  | R1 506.77

 Consumption since latest invoiceMeterTariffRead DateStart ReadLatest ReadingDaysUsageUnitsAmount
*** | COJ Water Dom LL crw | 08/06/2026 10:13:00 | 623 | 628.915 | 38 | 5.915 | KLw | R0.00
*** | COJ Ener Dom LL crw sp | 11/06/2026 00:00:00 | 32395 | 32601.615 | 10 | 206.615 | KWH | R769.89
Shared Services @ | R5.82 per day | 11/06/2026 00:00:00 |   |   | 11 |   | R | R64.05

If we look at the account statements, it seems that the figures that you are quoting is incorrect.

Your email will be responded to as soon as possible.

Kind regards
Protea Metering

Best regards,

MM
Mduduzi M's update11 Jun 2026, 09:33
Reviewer Update
Your own response has proven my case.

Your data shows:
  • ✅ Unit 97: 57.806 KWH electricity + 3.599 KL water consumed

The problem:
  • 🚨 Unit 97 is COMPLETELY VACANT with NO tenant
A vacant unit CANNOT consume electricity and water. This proves your meters are either:
  • ❌ Misallocated between units
  • ❌ Faulty and recording phantom consumption
  • ❌ Incorrectly assigned in your system
You also admitted backdated catch-up billing after contract reinstatement. You still haven't provided May 2026 statements showing how I paid R3,000+ for one unit. Your formal email response is still outstanding since last Friday.

Regards
Mduduzi
MM
Mduduzi M's update11 Jun 2026, 09:48
Reviewer Update
Protea Metering - I now have my full account statement for Unit 98 and the figures speak for themselves. Invoice escalation - Unit 98:
  • Oct 2025: R463.00 ✅ (normal)
  • Nov 2025: R214.46 ✅ (normal)
  • Dec 2025: R931.37 ✅ (normal)
  • Jan 2026: R951.31 ✅ (normal)
  • Feb 2026: R1,180.23 ✅ (normal)
  • Mar 2026: R991.83 ✅ (normal)
  • Apr 2026: R1,153.58 ✅ (normal)
  • May 2026: R1,527.73 🚨 (+32% sudden jump)
  • Jun 2026: R2,263.91 🚨 (+48% further jump)
This escalation coincides EXACTLY with Protea Metering's contract termination and reinstatement. From May 2026 to date I have paid R3,450.00 - more than my previous 3 months combined. Additionally - Unit 97 (completely VACANT): Your own data shows Unit 97 consuming 57.806 KWH electricity and 3.599 KL water despite having NO tenant and NO occupants. This is physically impossible and proves meter misallocation or fabricated readings. I have now compiled:
  • ✅ Full statement showing sudden escalation from May 2026
  • ✅ Evidence of phantom consumption on vacant Unit 97
  • ✅ Confirmation of backdated catch-up billing (your own admission)
  • ✅ months of unanswered complaints

Escalating immediately to:
  • NERSA (meter misallocation)
  • National Consumer Commission
  • CSOS (Body Corporate complaint)
Protea Metering - respond to my formal email TODAY or face formal regulatory complaints.

Regards
Mduduzi
MM
Mduduzi M's update12 Jun 2026, 08:06
Reviewer Update
UPDATE: Protea Metering has responded through Account Manager Andrew confirming that a technical team will visit Stanley Park to verify meter readings.

I acknowledge this positive step. However I have highlighted that:
  • Unit 97 (vacant) shows impossible consumption of 57.806 KWH and 3.599 KL water
  • Unit 98 invoices jumped 48% in one month coinciding with contract reinstatement
  • I require specific timeline for investigation and confirmation that disconnection is suspended

I will update this complaint once the technical findings are received and billing corrections (if applicable) are processed.

Protea Metering - please respond to my timeline request urgently.
MM
Mduduzi M's update12 Jun 2026, 10:42
Reviewer Update
UPDATE 2: Protea Metering sent technician to verify physical meter readings. Readings broadly match system for Unit 97 (geyser and fridge account for consumption).

HOWEVER critical issues remain: 🚨 Unit 98 system shows 12.948 kWh MORE than physical meter - being billed for consumption that didn't happen 🚨 Unit 97 lifetime total: 35,827 kWh vs Unit 98 lifetime: 32,614 kWh - the unit with only a geyser and empty fridge has consumed 3,213 kWh MORE over its lifetime than the fully occupied unit. This requires historical investigation. 🚨 Invoice jumped from R1,153 to R2,263 in 2 months - Protea Metering admitted on HelloPeter that billing continued during contract termination and they reinstated from where they left off = catch-up billing app**** to residents

Awaiting explanation. NERSA complaint ready to file if not resolved satisfactorily. Protea Metering - please respond to outstanding questions urgently.
MM
Mduduzi M's update12 Jun 2026, 14:28
Reviewer Update
FINAL UPDATE before regulatory escalation:

Simple facts: ✅ Took occupation August 2025 - both meters at ZERO ✅ 7 months normal billing Oct 2025 - Apr 2026 on BOTH units 🚨 May 2026 - Protea Metering reinstates contract 🚨 May 2026 - BOTH Unit 97 AND Unit 98 invoices suddenly spike

Unit 97 is COMPLETELY VACANT with no tenant. Yet Unit 97 also spiked in May 2026.

Andrew blamed winter and tenant consumption. But how does winter and tenant consumption explain a VACANT unit spiking at exactly the same time?

Both units. Same month. Protea reinstatement. Coincidence?

Asked for monthly kWh data for both units for past 8 months. Deadline: COB today Friday 12 June 2026. No response = NERSA + NCC complaints Monday.

Protea Metering - this is your final opportunity to resolve this.
Protea Metering
Protea Metering's reply12 Jun 2026, 15:07
Official
Good day Mduduzi

In email, we have provided pictures of the meters, reflecting the actual readings for both.

If there is any difference between the pictures that was taken yesterday afternoon at around 18:00 vs the readings that you see on your online profile today, that confirms the consumption that took place overnight, and that confirms that there is actual consumption registering on the meters.

You confirmed that the empty unit has a working fridge and geyser.  All appliances that are switched on will consume electricity, irrespective of whether a person is inside the unit or not.

It is not possible for us to explain to you how the electricity was consumed - that consumption is managed solely by whomever is in the unit.  Our job is to ensure that the readings are correct, and that we have done.

We have provided an immense amount of accurate information via email.  Our communication regarding the matter is therefore concluded.

The bottom line is that our instruction is that a consumer must pay for what he has consumed, as the Body Corporate must pay the bulk account in full.

It is you prerogative to take the matter to NERSA, but you should note that we will not entertain any further communication regarding the matter.

Best regards,

MM
Mduduzi M's update12 Jun 2026, 16:35
Reviewer Update
UPDATE: Protea Metering Head of Portfolio provided consecutive invoices showing readings link correctly.

I acknowledge readings are consecutive.

However two issues remain: 1. May 2026 invoice shows water charge of R0.00 - water meter was not read. If water wasn't read, was electricity reading also skipped? 2. Unit 98 consumption jumped 74% in one month (11.20 kWh/day to 18.32 kWh/day). I am engaging my tenant to establish what changed.

Still awaiting Unit 97 invoices.

Matter partially resolved - still investigating consumption jump and water anomaly.
Protea Metering
Protea Metering's reply15 Jun 2026, 08:27
Official
Good day Mduduzi

Kindly refer to the email that was sent, that addresses these matters as well:
  • COJ water tariff on sliding scale, with free water up to 6 kl per 30 days
  • Thank you for involving the tenant.  However please note escalation of consumption during colder months - details provided in the email.
  • Please follow the directions provided in the email, on how to download the invoices from the online profile.

It is important for us that no uncer*****y remains.  If needed, please make an appointment to visit our offices for an in-person session.

Kind regards,
Protea Metering

Best regards,