Tshwane begins recoding prepaid meters project to avoid lights out for ratepayers in November
Prepaid meters which are not reconditioned before November 24 will cease functioning as new tokens generated will not operate on non-updated meters, stopping the dispensing of electricity.
Tshwane will begin the electricity prepaid meters TID system project to ensure that all prepaid meters within the metro are reconditioned before November 24, to avoid the majority of ratepayers falling into darkness after the deadline.
The metro in this project has allocated R75-million to upgrade the prepaid meter system and configure the meters to accept new tokens when recharging electricity coupons.
The new Token Identification (TID) process arrives as the machine generating key coupon digits for prepaid meters ran out of codes to generate for prepaid meters.
Speaking on the process on Wednesday, June 5 during the official launch of the TID system roll-over in Centurion, mayor Cilliers Brink said: “Should any client not change to STS-2, their meters will not accept any electricity token leading to lights out.”
The current prepaid metering software system, which creates credit tokens for prepaid electricity meters, will stop generating codes as the unique numbers are running out.
Brink said the software of the current prepaid meters will expire on November 24.
“This means that the current Standard Transfer Specification (STS1) meters have to be converted to STS-2 to continue to function beyond November 24.
Prepaid meters which are not reconditioned will cease functioning as new tokens generated will not operate on non-updated meters, stopping the dispensing of electricity.”
The city began the rollover process last month in Region 2 and will continue to fast-track the transition to a new system before the expiry period of the current system.
Brink said the city is undergoing a large-scale reconditioning of prepaid electricity meters.
“This will be done when consumers buy electricity: either on the slip or the message they get will generate two key changes, which you have to put on the meter which will open up STS-2.”
He said the process of changing the key codes is important.
“Should any client not change to STS-2 their meters will not accept any electricity tokens leading to lights out,” Brink said.
He said if the meters that are repurposed are still not working, a dedicated team is on the ground to offer support to any technical challenges.
“If you cannot change over using the system or facing any technical challenges, a team has been deployed and will assist all residents free of charge.”
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Brink warned that during the upgrading of the prepaid meters, the teams will also be checking for any illegal connections.
He said the TID system upgrades will be done in phases covering all seven regions of Tshwane.
Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba said all prepaid meter software in Tshwane must be updated to be STS-2 compliant.
“Non-compliant prepaid meters must be replaced before November 24. The updating of the software will configure the meter to accept a token for the new TID values.”
Bokaba said any prepaid customers with old credit tokens generated or purchased before November not yet used will be rejected after the upgrade, and no refunds will be issued.
“When a meter is not upgradable, dedicated field service officials will be deployed to visit identified prepaid meters that need to be upgraded. Prepaid meter users will be notified when field service officials are in their area,” Bokaba said.
Bokaba said the field service officials can be identified through their uniforms and identification cards.
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MMC for Utilities Themba Fosi warned residents to desist from illegal connections as the field service officials will be checking all meters.
“When the teams are upgrading your prepaid meters they will also check if residents are not illegally connected to our grid.”
He said in case residents have issues with bills they must contact the city for an arrangement to be made.
Fosi also warned the field service officials to desist from taking bribes or reconnecting clients illegally.
Mynhardt Ferreira, the senior project manager for the TID rollover, said residents should not hold on to tokens but rather load them before the transition on November 24.
Ferreira said at this rate, he is certain that the meters will be upgraded even before November 24.
“The project is expected to last for five months – meaning the target date is October 31,” he said.
He said the new STS-2 will be functional for the next 30 years.
“The meters were working on an algorithm that read from 1993 which understood STS-1 tokens and the numbers will be running out this year, hence there’s a need for STS-2 to generate new numbers to read.”
He said the prepaid meters now require a new algorithm which is set on STS-2.
The National Treasury has called on all municipalities to prioritise the municipal budget to accommodate STS prepayment token identifier and related transversal tenders.
“This is to avert the looming crisis of consumers not able to purchase services if prepaid meters have not been upgraded. The suffering of consumers must be avoided at all costs,” the Treasury said.
The Treasury said should the municipality fail to re-prioritise their proposed budget to accommodate the roll-out of the STS TID conversion, the national government will seriously consider invoking Section 216(2) of the Constitution.
“The implication is that the 2024/25 Local Government Equitable Share (LGES) starting with the July 2024 tranche, will be withheld.”
The Treasury said municipalities are urged to report the progress of the STS TID roll-over to the South African Local Government Association.
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