The software of all prepaid electricity meters in Tshwane needs to be upgraded. The current prepaid electricity meters will stop vending electricity in November 2024 when the token identity numbers used for the system will expire.
Prepaid meter software must be upgraded from STS Edition 1 (STS-1) to STS Edition 2 (STS-2). A token identity number is calculated from a given base date and has a life span of 31 years. The token identity number memory in the meter must be reset and the meter key must be changed to prevent old tokens from being used.
After November 2024, all STS-1-compliant meters will stop accepting credit tokens. All prepaid meter software must therefore be upgraded from STS-1 to STS-2. Consumers must upgrade their electricity meters as they will not be able to recharge their meters with new tokens after 24 November 2024.
The prepaid meter software upgrade will be rolled out per region. The programme started in May 2024 and it is expected that the programme will be completed by 31 October 2024.
If your meter falls within the designated area and time frame for the token identity number upgrade, any purchase you make will trigger the issuing of two key change tokens of 20 digits each. You will thus receive the following three tokens:
- First 20-digit token: Key Change 1
- Second 20-digit token: Key Change 2
- Third 20-digit token: Electricity credit token
Please make sure that all credit tokens already purchased but not yet inserted into the meter are loaded before the meter is updated, as the meter will not accept the old tokens once upgraded.
Step 1: Enter the first 20-digit code (Key Change 1) and wait for it to be accepted.
Step 2: Enter the second 20-digit code (Key Change 2) and wait for it to be accepted.
If both sets of key change tokens are accepted by your meter, then your meter has been successfully upgraded.
Step 3: Enter the third 20-digit token (electricity credit token). If accepted, it is confirmation that your prepaid meter has been upgraded to STS-2.
NB: For your prepaid meter to be successfully upgraded, all three sets of 20-digit tokens issued must be accepted by your prepaid meter.
The City will adopt a two-approach process
Approach 1
- The scheduled prepaid consumers will be issued with three sets of tokens when purchasing electricity.
- The first two tokens will be the key change tokens and the third token will be the new month’s electricity credit token.
- The consumer will need to first enter the two sets of key change tokens issued before entering the newly purchased credit token into the meter.
- After successfully loading the two sets of key change tokens, the credit token can be loaded.
Approach 2
Dedicated field service officials will be deployed to visit identified prepaid meters that need to be updated.
- The prepaid meter users will be notified when field service officials are in their areas.
- More information can also be sourced from councillors and the City’s website and social media pages.
- The field service advisors will have identification and their identity can be verified with councillors or the customer care support centre.
- Customers are urged to be vigilant during this time as criminal elements might take advantage.
The operating hours for the field officials will be from 07:30 to 17:30 daily during the winter and 07:30 to 18:00 in the summer.
Regional schedule
Region 2: 1 to 31 May 2024
- Region 4: 1 to 30 June 2024
- Region 6: 1 to 31 July 2024
- Region 3: 1 to 31 August 2024
- Region 1: 1 to 30 September 2024
- Region 5 and 7: 1 to 31 October 2024
- All regions (project winding down): 1 to 24 November 2024
Consumers who are experiencing difficulties in loading the key change tokens can contact City of Tshwane contact centres or send an email to tid@tshwane.gov.za. Alternatively, you can send a WhatsApp with your City of Tshwane account number, address and prepaid meter number to the numbers below:
- Regions 1, 2 and 5: 072 149 8552
- Regions 3 and 6: 076 892 7328
- Regions 4 and 7: 063 671 3132
The City urges residents who have access to this information to assist family members, friends, colleagues, the elderly and neighbours with updates and transferring to the new system.