SALGA says municipalities have not upgraded over a million prepaid electricity meters

JOHANNESBURG - The SA Local Government Association (SALGA) said that municipalities have not upgraded over a million prepaid electricity meters that are due to stop working in three months.

Municipalities are in a race against time to ensure that all its 4.5 million standard transfer specification meters are upgraded by the 24th of November.

The token identifiers of the meters will expire on the date meaning customers will no longer be able to load electricity.

Standard transfer specification meters, also known as prepaid electricity meters – were installed in South Africa about 31 years ago.

Due to a timer-linked security system, their token identifiers are due to expire this year in November unless they are upgraded.

Due to a timer-linked security system, their token identifiers are due to expire this year in November unless they are upgraded.

Sustainable energy specialist at SALGA Silas Mulaudzi said that municipalities have so far upgraded 3.4 million meters.

“We see most of these (outstanding) meters are basically in the three provinces, I think 70% of these 1.1 million meters are in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng as well as Free State and surely there is a lot of support that municipalities are receiving from the provincial government in the three municipalities I have mentioned.”

Mulaudzi said that he is confident municipalities will meet the November deadline.