City prepaid electricity meter updates done way ahead of deadline; its customers not impacted by end November deadline
06 November 2024
City customers are not impacted by the National Prepaid Meter SOFTWARE Update that is under way across South Africa. City prepaid electricity meter updates have been completed way ahead of deadline and its customers are not impacted by the end November deadline. Over the past three years that the City has been managing the update process, customers would have received their token update codes and have inserted those once-off codes with their purchase.
Due to some inaccurate and confusing reporting on some news sites, many City customers are concerned that they will not be able to recharge their prepaid meters come the end of November 2024 and won’t have power supply. However, all of the approximately 570 000 City prepaid meters have been done.
This software update programme is therefore coming to a close as far as City customers are concerned.
City-supplied customers who are uncertain of their software update from KRN1 to KRN2 are able to check by simply entering the code 1844 6744 0738 4377 2416 on their prepaid meter’s keypad. The screen will display one of two messages:
- “1” means the update is required
- “2” means the meter has already been updated
‘We thank our customers for their help in getting this programme done ahead of the deadline. The national prepaid electricity meter software update instruction was launched in September 2021 with the deadline of updating all existing prepaid meter software in South Africa before 30 November 2024. The City had the task of updating a mammoth 570 000 meters across the metro.
‘The programme and associated communication campaign ran for three years and it was all handled by internal teams. Due to the sheer volumes of meters in the Cape Town metro supply, the highest number of all other municipalities in the country, operational teams could provide back-up assistance, but customers needed to have the confidence to update their meters, and trust the City’s processes. Over the years, most customers updated their meter software by getting additional codes when they purchased power. Well done to our customers and the City for leading the way,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
How to check if you are a City or Eskom customer
City customers have all completed the updates, no further action is required.
- 1. Token receipt – most receipts should indicate who supplies a customer’s electricity
- 2. Monthly account – if a customer receives an account from the City, they are a City-supplied customer. If their account is from Eskom, they are an Eskom-supplied customer.
- 3. If in doubt, check the load-shedding map for an idea of areas supplied by the City or Eskom, but note it is a high level view.
- 4. If in doubt, phone the City’s Call Centre on
0860 103 089 with the meter number.
To clarify, there were/are two meter-related programmes:
|
NATIONAL METER SOFTWARE UPDATES
COMPLETED |
CITY OF CAPE TOWN PREPAID METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME
UNDER WAY |
|---|
| When making a purchase, customers received long codes to update their own meter software.
All updates done way ahead of the national schedule. | Replacing old single and three-phase electricity credit meters and prepaid meters with new prepaid meters in City-supplied suburbs. The replacement is free of charge and the new meter will ensure more accurate readings, greater usage control and cost management. The replacement is compulsory as the meters belong to the City of Cape Town.
There is a schedule of areas being visited in a phased approach. There is no difference in the cost of electricity between the old credit and new prepaid meters as the meters only measure usage. |
| |
Tips for residents:
- 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.
To verify work being done: contact the City’s Call Centre on
086 010 3089.
To report suspicious behaviour contact:
0800 1100 77
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
