Eskom warns of bogus officials

Durban - Eskom has warned householders to be careful of bogus electrical technicians posing as service inspectors of electricity meters to gain access to people’s homes.

The parastatal said it had received a number of complaints from Durban residents who said there were people asking them to open their doors so they could inspect electricity meters and connections.

This week Marian Immerman, from La Lucia, almost became a victim of the hoax when two people told her they were conducting a survey on renewable energy and needed access to her house.

Immerman phoned Eskom to verify the survey, which turned out to be bogus.

“It was a man and a woman. When they called, they knew my name,” she said.

“They told me to prepare my utility bill as they were also going to check the meter.”

When she started being difficult with them, the woman threatened to refer her to the manager as she was “not co-operating”.

She called her local Eskom office where staff warned her not to allow anybody on to the premises.

Eskom’s acting spokesman Andrew Etzinger said: “householders should not let anyone into their homes posing as Eskom on the pretext of changing any inefficient technology.”

He said if Eskom was going to conduct any form of survey the specific roll-out and its details would be widely advertised.

Personnel authorised to carry out any work for or on behalf of Eskom would also have appropriate identity cards.

“Householders should demand that anybody claiming to be working for or on behalf of Eskom should produce their identity card before entering the property.

“Householders are advised to verify with Eskom whether there is any Eskom-related project currently taking place in their area,” he said.

The Mercury