Additional areas to benefit from City's electricity meter replacement programme

18 September 2025

The City’s Energy Directorate continues to invest in electrical infrastructure by rolling out its compulsory meter replacement programme, which replaces the very old credit meters and some old prepaid meters free-of-charge. The City is pleased to announce that more customers will benefit from this programme over the next few months, including those who would be eligible to be placed on the subsidised Lifeline tariff if a new meter is installed. The new meters remain the property of the City and they help with managing and measuring household usage in real-time.

‘These new meters will make it easier for residents to manage their energy costs as they can see their usage in real-time, while ensuring fairness and greater accuracy in measuring their electricity usage. Importantly, electricity costs are the same whether residents have an old credit meter or a new prepaid meter. The meters do not supply electricity, they merely measure usage. These new meters will also allow qualifying residents to switch to the affordable subsidised Lifeline Tariff, which includes Free Basic Electricity. We thank our residents for their support as we work to invest in, improve and modernise the City’s electricity infrastructure,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.

What residents need to know:
When it is their turn, they’ll receive a letter or phone call to schedule an appointment. Once arranged, they may confirm the booking’s authenticity by phoning the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089 or send an email to mrp@capetown.gov.za. The installation only takes about one hour, if all goes to plan and residents are advised of the process that follows.

If your area was previously serviced with new meters, but you missed out, please call 0860 103 089 to discuss the options.

Why the new meters are beneficial:
• They give accurate readings, reducing any potential billing issues.
• They help residents monitor and manage electricity use in real-time.
• They allow eligible households to benefit from the subsidised Lifeline Tariff which includes Free Basic Electricity.

Areas currently benefiting from the meter replacement programme, and in the months ahead:

Fast facts:

• Compulsory programme, free-of-charge.
• Meter replacement enables Lifeline tariff benefits.
• New meters do not ‘use’ more electricity, they merely measure the usage.
• No difference in usage of electricity between the old and new meters.
• New meters are part of an investment in accurate and new electrical infrastructure.
• Electricity meters are the property of the City and reasonable access to premises is required in terms of the law.
• All other meter-related work continues, including Small-Scale Embedded Generation meters, pre-paid meter replacement and tampering enforcements, among others.

• The Large Power Users are not on the list as they already have AMI meters installed. Small Power Users in the commercial sense form part of the programme if their main supply is limited to 100 Amps.

Tips for residents:
• To verify: contact the City’s Call Centre on 086 010 3089
• Always verify the work order number when an official visits your home.
• Check the official’s City-issued identification card.
• The ID card must display the City logo, the name and surname of the staff member or mandated contractor, and must contain an embedded photo of the staff member or mandated contractor.
• If unsure, call the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089.
• Report suspicious behaviour to the City’s law enforcement agencies or to the SAPS.
• If residents have questions about unusually high or low usage patterns or revenue protection matters they are encouraged to contact the Customer Call Centre: 0860 103 089.

 
See this video for more information: Old and New Meter comparison – City’s innovative Meter Replacement Programme: https://youtu.be/GtJqHIOPpFo

Please see the meter replacement programme FAQs.
 
 
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office