Tshwane pre-paid meters aimed at solving municipality financial challenges
“At the end of the roll-out everyone will be on prepaid and I want to urge residents that it is in essence compulsory,” says ward councillor.
The roll-out of pre-paid electricity meters in Tshwane continues as the municipality planned to convert 162 000 households on postpaid electricity by next year.
Ward 83 councillor Francois Bekker said Tshwane officials were currently installing the meters in Erasmuskloof.
“Some residents do not want the pre-paid meters, but it is important for them to know that this is part of a national policy programme that is aimed at improving the municipality’s finances,” Bekker said.
“At the end of the roll-out, everyone will be on pre-paid and I want to urge residents who refuse to be on pre-paid, that it is in essence compulsory.”
Bekker said residents who do not want the pre-paid meters should not be surprised if the municipality in the long run would suspend their services.
Utility services MMC Daryl Johnston said the installations were compulsory and per the Tshwane metro’s standard electricity supply by-laws.
The by-law states that “the supply, distribution and reticulation of electricity by the municipality to all consumers shall be on a smart pre-payment basis as metered and paid for using a smart pre-payment meter system”.
In 2021, Tshwane said it planned to convert about 162 000 households on electricity post-paid meters to pre-paid by 2023.
This was a move to boost the revenue collection of the municipality.
How will you know that the contractor is from the metro?
The contractor should have a letter from the Tshwane metro identifying him as a valid contractor.
The letter will be valid for no longer than three months.
On the letter, there should be contact numbers that residents can phone and verify that it is a contractor of the metro.
He will also have to identify himself with his own identification e.g. ID.
Electricity units can be purchased from the metro’s pay points at customer care centres and the following banks and retailers:
– Footprint
– Shoprite
– SPAR
– ABSA Bank, African Bank, FNB, Capitec Bank, Standard Bank, Old Mutual and Investec
– Engen, BP, Shell and Sasol filling stations
– UniPIN
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