Lekwa launches Smart Meter Grant Programme
Households and single-phase business customers with damaged, faulty, bypassed, tampered or conventional electricity meters are encouraged to report their meters and apply for replacement with new smart meters.
The Lekwa Local Municipality has officially launched its Smart Meters Grant (SMG) programme, an initiative funded through the National Treasury Municipal Debt Relief Programme to modernise electricity metering infrastructure, improve revenue management and enhance service delivery to residents and businesses.
The municipal communications manager, Lubabalo Majenge, said households and single-phase business customers with damaged, faulty, bypassed, tampered or conventional electricity meters are encouraged to report their meters and apply for replacement with new smart meters.
Majenge said residents who previously registered under the municipality’s Electricity Meter Amnesty Programme will have smart meters installed in line with the approved implementation plan.
“The installation of smart meters for qualifying beneficiaries will commence in accordance with the approved implementation plan,” said Majenge.
According to Majenge, the programme aims to improve billing accuracy and ensure fair and transparent electricity consumption charges, enhance customer service and operational efficiency through advanced metering technology, and strengthen the reliability and sustainability of the municipality’s electricity distribution network.
“The successful implementation of the programme will contribute significantly to the municipality’s efforts to improve financial sustainability while ensuring efficient and reliable electricity services for all consumers,” said Majenge.
He urged residents and business owners to cooperate with authorised municipal officials and the appointed service provider during meter inspections and installation.
He added that, for security reasons, all officials and contractors involved in the project will carry valid identification cards.
“We urge our community to support this project as it seeks to modernise the municipality’s electricity management to ensure reliability and sustainability.
It will also empower consumers to manage their own electricity consumption, reduce electricity losses and improve revenue collection,” said Majenge.
Residents are encouraged to follow the municipality’s official communication platforms for updates on installation schedules and other programme announcements.
For more information, residents may contact the municipality’s revenue or electricity departments on 017 712 9815 or visit the municipal offices during normal office hours between 07:30 and 16:15.
The system uses split meters, where the main meter is installed in a municipal box at the street front, while only the Customer Interface Unit, commonly referred to as the keypad, is kept in the house. The CIU communicates with the meter through the power cable.
