No upgrades for some Eskom prepaid customers

Long queues were still seen outside the Eskom Marburg offices even after the prepaid meter upgrade deadline passed.

Eskom prepaid meter customers had until last Sunday to upgrade their meters or pay up to R12 000 for a replacement.

However, the power utility said that active meter owners who had not bought electricity in recent months had been granted an extension to update their meters beyond the November 24 deadline.

Last week, scores of people rushed to the Eskom offices to try to beat the meter recoding deadline.

Customers braved the heat and waited in the queues.

One customer, Mandlenkosi Xolo, said: “The electricity minister said in the news that the deadline was last week, and we made sure that we came here, now they are extending the deadline. The government and Eskom think people are stupid. When it is election time, they come to our homes, but now we must stand in the sun.”

Meanwhile, Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said it was unhealthy to stand in long queues, especially in the heat.

“We will assist customers and then announce the new deadline. For those who know their meter numbers and their meters are active, we advise them to proceed to buy electricity,” she said.

She added that there was an ongoing need for customers to adapt to the new system.

Mokwena said a technological advancement has enabled the creation of Key Change Tokens (KCT) on the online vending system, designed to facilitate the process of ensuring all prepaid customers are compliant.

“Zero buyers who currently have non-compliant meters must visit their designated vending sites with their meter numbers to purchase electricity and obtain KCTs to transition their meters into KRN2 compliance. Customers are urged to check their meters before visiting their nearest Eskom offices. To check whether their meters have been recoded, customers need to enter 1844 6744 0738 4377 2416,” said Mokwena.

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