88.1% of Western Cape prepaid electricity and water meters have been updated, with just 200 days until the prepaid meter blackout.
As the system that generates unique recharge codes is nearing its limit, each prepaid meter will require a ‘reset code’ to continue providing residents with unique codes beyond 24 November 2024.
Also read: City of Cape Town warns residents of latest electricity scam
The Standard Transfer Specification (STS) is the leading global protocol for transferring prepayment tokens for electricity and other utilities. It is used by more than 500 power utilities across the globe.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city at half the price? Let these amazing offers inspire you. Get them here.
According to the STS Association, South Africa has approximately 10 million STS meters. Of these, seven million are in Eskom-serviced areas and three million are in municipal service areas.
🚨Western Cape residents, the clock is ticking!
Just over 200 days left until the 24 Nov deadline to update your prepaid electricity & water meters.
88.1% of meters are updated, but we need to finish strong! Let’s avoid a major blackout.
Read more here https://t.co/XXt1Qn4els pic.twitter.com/WUCWGfqhtu
— Minister Mireille Wenger (@MireilleWenger) May 3, 2024
‘We are making steady progress in the switch over of pre-paid water and electricity meters in the Western Cape, but now is the time to ramp up efforts to complete the process to avoid disaster come 24 November 2024,’ says Mireille Wenger, Western Cape minister of finance and economic opportunities.
‘If we don’t, it will be equivalent to load-shedding on steroids for thousands of homes and businesses.
‘We have an estimated 1 047 682 municipal meters in the province, and as of 30 April, approximately 88.1% have been updated, up from 82.5% at the beginning of April this year.
‘I’d specifically like to congratulate Bergriver Municipality which has now completed the switch over for all pre-paid meters under their jurisdiction, joining Cape Agulhas Municipality, which was the first municipality to complete the reset in the province.’
As per the Western Cape Government, failure to complete the reset will leave residents unable to buy electricity and municipalities unable to generate revenue from the sale of prepaid electricity or water.
Wenger says the provincial treasury has gathered all the contact details for the relevant officials in each municipality so residents can contact them with any queries they may have.
‘I’d like to strongly urge our municipalities that have yet to complete the process to urgently do so. It is critical that we work together to avoid the looming pre-paid meter black-out, providing certainty and continued service delivery to households and businesses.’
For the full list of contact details for each relevant official, visit www.westerncape.gov.za.
Explore the Cape with these incredible car deals, all priced under 100k. Find car listings here.
Also read:
City of Cape Town teams offer assistance for electricity meter updates
Picture: Lubabalo Lesolle / Gallo Images