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Meter deadline looms: Upgrade your meter or cough up R12k for replacement

Customers have less than a week until November 24 to upgrade their meters and avoid the consequences of non-compliance.

November 19, 2024
Tshiamo Boikhutso 3 minutes read
Picture: Stock image

As the deadline for upgrading prepaid electricity meters looms, Eskom is sounding the alarm to customers that failure to upgrade meter systems could lead to having to replace your meter at a cost of up to R12 000.

This could affect customers who still have meters operating on the outdated KRN1 (Key Revision Number 1) system after November 24.

According to the power utility, customers have a few days left until November 24 to upgrade and avoid the costly consequences of not doing so.

Eskom warned that after the deadline, meters still on KRN1 will no longer accept electricity tokens, leading to complete loss of power once current credits are depleted.

“Customers with meters still on KRN1 have likely not purchased electricity for more than six months or might be using unauthorised tokens bought from criminal syndicates,” said Eskom’s group executive for distribution, Monde Bala.

 

He said all customers, including those who have not purchased electricity in the last six months, are advised to purchase electricity tokens from authorised vendors before the deadline to avoid the dire consequences of an inoperable meter and incurring replacement costs.

“This will allow them to recode their meters with the two sets of 20-digit codes provided.”

Bala said Eskom has been proactive in informing the public about this essential upgrade since August 2023, with a comprehensive awareness campaign to assist customers and offer all the help they have available.

The power utility has also implemented community support teams and launched a public awareness campaign in multiple languages to provide guidance on using self-service tools like the Alfred Chatbot, which will help simplify and make the recoding process accessible for all customers.

Tshwane MMC for Utility Services Frans Boshielo has urged residents to upgrade their prepaid meter software, known as Standard Transfer Specification (STS) or Key Revision Number (KRN) from STS1 to STS2 or KRN1 to KRN2.

“Your meter software must be upgraded to ensure the prepaid meter system continues to function after November 24,” he said.

“If residents have not upgraded by that time, their prepaid meters will not accept any token generated after the 24th.”

Boshielo also warned that even those who have illegally connected or bridged their meters will face challenges after the deadline date.

“The time is now; don’t wait, the time is ticking,” he urged residents.

 

Customers can check and upgrade their meter by doing the following:

Verify if their meter is ready:

– Enter 1844 6744 0738 4377 2416 on the meter keypad.

– If it shows 1 or 1.2, the meter still needs to be recoded.

– If it shows 2 or 2.2, the meter is already updated and requires no further action.

To upgrade the prepaid meter, customers should:

– Enter the first 20 digits of the recode token and wait for it to be accepted.

– Enter the second 20 digits of the recode token and wait for it to be accepted.

– Lastly, enter the last 20-digit token from the latest electricity purchase to recharge your meter.

WATCH:

ALSO READ: Over 100k Tshwane prepaid meters yet to be updated

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November 19, 2024
Tshiamo Boikhutso 3 minutes read

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