The Lekwa Municipality has begun installing smart meters to gain revenue from electricity consumers.
The meters, unlike the previous ones, send electronic readings to the energy supplier automatically and will also alert the supplier if the meter is being tampered with.
“We have begun at businesses around town,” Mr Sipho Mkwanazi, spokesman of the municipality, said.
“In stage two we will be focusing on the residential areas.”
According to Mr Mkwanazi it has been difficult to trace people that have been bridging their meters in the past, but with the new meters it will be picked up right away.
There is no need to take a reading monthly, as done in the past, because the new meters communicate directly with the energy supplier and supply an accurate reading.
Benefits include more accurate bills, no one has to come to your home to take a reading and better oversight and management of energy use with a real time data display in your home.
A smart meter will not save you money, but the extras can offer insight into how to lower your electricity consumption.
The meters allow energy suppliers to accurately track household energy consumption and will put an end to estimated bills.
