Media statement 15 March 2024
MMC Themba Fosi
Utility Services and Regional Operation & Coordination
Electricity tariffs for consumption are reviewed annually as approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and City Council. The new approved electricity tariffs are implemented at the beginning of the financial year (1st of July).
There is a common enquiry regarding the disparity in electricity tariffs between prepaid meters and conventional meters. The electricity tariffs for both prepaid and conventional (postpaid) meters are charged the same c/kWh per unit of consumption. All prepaid meters used by the City comply with the requirements of the National Standards.
Bi-directional Meters: The City offers tariffs allowing customers to feed electricity back into the grid through bi-directional meters. Reverse feed (feed-in) requires approval from the City and can only be allowed for registered embedded generation customers with bi-directional meters installed. The City is developing the crediting process for customers who want to feed-in excess energy to the City’s grid. Unauthorised feeding back of electricity poses safety risks and potential legal liabilities.
Accessibility for Visually Impaired Users: Inclusivity is important in our service delivery. While the prepaid system accommodates visually impaired users, some may require assistance in processing electricity credits after the installation. Should the customer experience difficulty in using the prepaid metering system, the customer may contact the City for assistance.
Turnaround Time for Prepaid Meter Installation: Efficiency in service provision is a priority for the City. Upon application and payment for a prepaid meter, the installation of the prepaid meter will take place within 14 days. If the prepaid meter is not installed within 14 days, the customer can contact the Customer Care Centre to make a follow-up at (012) 358 9999.
Addressing Arrears Accounts and Prepaid Meter Installations: As part of revenue enhancement, the City is retrofitting conventional meters with prepaid meters for accounts in arrears. However, the account that is in arrears does not prioritise a customer to receive a retrofit for a prepaid meter.
Purchasing Electricity Units: Convenience is central to our service delivery model. Customers have multiple avenues to purchase prepaid electricity. Prepaid electricity can be purchased from the City’s pay-points, which is open between 7h30 and 16h00, as well as various third-party vendors like banking applications, major retailers, petrol stations, informal (spaza) shops, etc.
Credit Control Measures: Customers whose accounts are in arrears must contact Customer Care Centre to make the necessary arrangements to avoid electricity disconnection.
Revenue Protection: Customers are urged and encouraged to buy their prepaid electricity units from retailers and banks promptly. The City will not tolerate any bridging / tampering / by-passing of prepaid electricity meters to consume electricity illegally without being metered. Any customer found to have bridged / tampered / by-passed electricity prepaid metering, will be penalised accordingly and they will not be able to buy prepaid electricity until the penalty is paid in full.
The City is aware of large power users, mainly businesses, who are tampering with demand meters by interfering with the current transformers (CT) ratios, installing the wrong CT, swapping CT polarities, cutting the communication wires, vandalising the meter, and removing of fuses. This practise constitutes illegal consumption of electricity. Any customers found interfering will be penalised accordingly.
For assistance with prepaid meter issues, customers can contact the Tshwane Call Center on 012 358 9999. Alternatively, they can SMS “Power” followed by the “account number / prepaid meter number” and a brief description of the issue to 082 612 0333 / 44676.
Enquiries:
Tsebo Majoro