Eskom’s prepaid meter rollover project has brought in about 400 000 zero buyers who have become paying customers.

Zero buyers are people who have been acquiring electricity illegally.

According to a statement issued by Eskom, its prepaid meter Key Revision Number (KRN) rollover project has been completed successfully.

Following the deadline for prepaid meters to be updated to KRN2 on Sunday, Eskom’s key findings indicate the following:

• Of the database of 6.91 million prepaid customers, all have been converted to KRN2. A data cleaning exercise to update the incomplete details of 341 000 customers has brought Eskom’s customer base to 7.25 million.
• As of November 24, about 5.5 million customers (which includes about 400 000 zero buyers who have now become paying customers) are transacting on KRN2.
• The number of zero buyers is now about 1.7 million, compared with an average of 2.1 million over the past 12 months.

“We request these customers [zero buyers] to do what is right by Friday, December 13, by visiting their nearest Eskom sites.”

Eskom to help zero buyers who can’t load tokens

Eskom is encouraging zero buyers who bought electricity tokens before the November 24 deadline and who cannot load their tokens to visit an Eskom centre by Friday, December 13.

“These buyers will not be unfairly penalised… They must bring their slips/tokens to the nearest Eskom hub to be assisted.

“Customers are urged not to wait for the last day of the extension [December 13],” said Eskom.

Customers who bought electricity before the November 24 deadline but have a meter-related matter – lost, bypassed or tampered with – must also go to an Eskom centre by December 13.

“Their situations will be assessed. Tamper fines will be issued if required, and meter updates and replacements will be scheduled.

“Those who did not buy electricity tokens by November 24 are urged to do so by December 13. Their meters will be audited. Tamper fines and meter replacement costs will be assessed and issued accordingly.”

Eskom said numerous zero buyers have come forward in the past 10 days. “We will continue to treat these users with dignity and respect as we resolve these issues.

Monde Bala, Eskom’s group executive for distribution, said that the technology changeover has not only brought Eskom new paying customers but has provided ‘us with a wealth of data to bring further zero buyers into legitimately purchasing electricity’.

“Eskom is doing everything that is practically possible to make users of electricity pay for it in the interest of those who already pay for electricity, maintain the sustainability of Eskom to drive the economic growth of South Africa and reduce our burden on the taxpayer,” added group chief executive Dan Marokane.

Assistance continues this week and beyond

Paying customers who are experiencing prepaid meters challenges can use the Alfred Chatbot, Eskom contact centre: Interactive voice response, or contact Eskom via WhatsApp at 087 741 1922.