The state electricity provider paid me a visit the other day, in triplicate. Three women showed up and informed me that my meter was long overdue for a check-up and that they had come to demount it for that purpose. Why three? Well, its obvious isn't it? One to remove the meter, one to count and test all the electrical sockets, as well as take an inventory of any and all light bulbs and electrical appliances in the house! The third lady's job was to fill in the Akt, in duplicate, with all this information, as well as an Order to have the meter inspected and a final piece of Paper whose purpose eludes me! Of course, all this was interspersed with the usual questions about how such an event would occur in my country, and then how come it doesn't…
My next job was to find the city electrical station, find the specific building needed, then figure out which room to go to and which line to stand in. Check. Submit the meter and documents 1, 2 and 3 to Lady #4 who fills in document 4 and 5. Take meter and document 4 and 5 to the appropriate window (lady #5) who fills in document 6 and 7 and takes the meter. Go home with document 1, 6 and 7. Not how I planned to fill my lunch hour, but simple enough.
Three days later, I return to Lady #5 and show her document 7. She then fills in doc 8 and tells me to go to building B and pay the 2118 tenge. Give doc 8 to Lady #6 in building B along with money. She tears it in half and staples doc 9 (cash register receipt) to one half and gives it back. Go back to building A and give doc 8&9 to Lady #4 who then gives me my meter and fills in doc10 and tells me to go back to Lady #5 in building B to pay 600 tenge for the remount fee. I KID YOU NOT! Lady #2 takes my money with doc 10 and repeats the tear in half and staple cash register receipt (doc 11) process and sends me back to Lady #4 in building A who fills in doc 12, in duplicate (using info from docs 8,10 and 5) and gets me to sign both copies. She keeps one and sends me back to building B, but this time to Lady #6.
There I submit docs 5, 8&9, 10&11, and 12. Lady #6 enters all information into a computer, then returns docs 8&9, 10&11 and tells me to go to building C where lady #7 takes my remaining docs and enters information into an old ledger. The earliest entry I saw was 1987, but I think it goes further back than that! Then she tells me not to lose the documents and be home all the next day. Lady #1 will come and remount the meter (after being shown docs 8&9, 10&11, and no doubt will fill in docs 13 to ‘n’!) The final step, or so I've been told, is when Man #1 comes to do the final check and apply the seal. I AM NOT KIDDING! ☺
