More than 300 000 City customers now using eBilling
15 December 2020
Some 301 262 customers are now receiving their monthly invoices from the City of Cape Town via email. This not only saves the City on postage, printing and paper costs, but ensures residents always receive their municipal accounts timeously. It is hoped that the number of customers using eBilling services will increase rapidly over the next few years as it holds an environmental benefit and ensures that the delivery of invoices is not disrupted by events outside of the City's control.
Year-on-year there has been a 10% increase in customers opting for paperless invoicing. An increased number of residents chose this option at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when the South African Post Office (SAPO) was not allowed to operate under Level 5 lockdown regulations.
Of the 986 540 invoices that the City issues every month, some 30% or 301 262 invoices are now sent out via email. Providing an electronic billing service and online payment options is one of the key measures instituted by the City to keep the municipality financially healthy enough to continue providing basic services.
‘The City’s drive to go paperless holds environmental benefits, reduces costs, improves efficiency for customers and decreases reliance on the SAPO.
‘We are encouraged to see this increase in eBilling customers. We know that our account holders expect an efficient, technologically advanced and cost-effective administration. We believe that there are many more account holders who have email addresses and we encourage customers to register for eBilling.
‘The City has the basics right: our large billing system has a 99% accuracy rate and with more people opting for paperless billing system is enhanced for all our customers. Thank you to all our account holders for their payments and support, especially during this extraordinary time,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Alderman Ian Neilson.
Some of the benefits of going paperless include:
savings on postage, printing and paper
invoices reach customers faster
reduced impact on the environment
easy filing of invoices by customers
better cash flow for the City
more direct control over sending and receiving invoices
Customers are encouraged to please register for e-Services and then visit the eBilling registration portal. They may follow the instruction wizard and fill in their information. They will need the following:
Once they have registered, they will receive their municipal bills via email. Customers may also email help.uces@capetown.gov.za and request to be registered for eBilling.
For account and City-rental payments:
EFTs: Select the City as a bank-listed beneficiary. Use only your nine-digit municipal account number as reference
Retailers: Shoprite, Checkers, USave, Pick n Pay, PEP, Ackermans, Lewis, Top It Up, Woolworths and selected Spar shops
ATM: contact your bank to add the City as an ATM beneficiary
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
