Photo by: Duane Daws
Eskom on Tuesday began the roll-out of smart prepaid meters in Sandton and Midrand that would see 6 000 households converted to the new smart meters.
“The programme is part of Eskom’s Smart Prepayment Solution to all customer sectors. Customers are encouraged to convert from their conventional meters to the prepaid billing mode as it has several benefits,” Eskom said in a statement on Tuesday.
Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe did not state how much the programme would cost but said converting to prepaid meters was a cheaper way of providing electricity.
Phasiwe said Eskom would contact their customers via telephone prior to sending in their technicians in order to counter criminal elements who may want to gain access to people’s properties illegally.
“Our aim is to migrate all our customers in Gauteng to prepaid system, hopefully in the next year or so. Prepaid is the most cost-effective system as customers on conventional meters sometimes get overwhelmed by electricity bills at the end of the month, forcing Eskom to chase after them. This system is not only beneficial to the customers, but also to Eskom,” Phasiwe said.
Phasiwe added that after Midrand and Sandton, Eskom would convert households in Soweto to the prepaid system where residents owe the power utility more than R4 billion.