Mbeya — MBEYA Regional Commissioner, Abbas Kandoro has urged meter readers from Mbeya Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authority and the Tanzania Electric Supply Company to stop using estimated readings on water and electricity bills to reduce complaints and disputes from customers.

Mr Kandoro made the remarks during the launch of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) Consumer Consultative Council's regional consumer committee for Mbeya.

He said that for a long time, there have been complaints and disputes from citizens claiming that the two authorities are providing water and electrical bills which do not correspond with their uses, of the services, for the month concerned.

He asked managers of the two organisations to make sure that their meter readers fulfil their duties and avoid writing estimations in their offices. "For example, you may find out that a person gets water service just for a week, but when he receives the bill he is required to pay for the whole month which is not fair," he said adding that citizens are supposed to pay bills according to services provided.

Kandoro also urged members of the Mbeya Regional consumer committee to research and build capacity so that they can be in position to understand challenges facing producers and service providers. He also said the main challenge facing the committee is that, citizens need to get quality services all the time with fair prices while service providers, all the time needs to get profit. "You should work honestly and avoid bias in your daily activities", he said.