In an attempt to ensure better service delivery, City Power has embarked on a campaign to replace electricity meters with new prepaid meters in its areas of supply.
According to Yumna Sheik, the spokesperson for City Power, old electricity meters – including old prepaid meters – will be removed and replaced with the new prepaid ones. “The aim of the prepayment roll-out is to ensure better service for customers as the new prepaid meters have an improved communication capacity and features,” she said.
The campaign started on 27 February, and in the next three months it will be implemented in the following areas:
– Fleurhof (4 000 households),
– Greenstone (1 500 households),
– Pennyville (4 000 households),
– Naturena (4 000 households),
– Ennerdale (5 752 households),
– Bramley (700 households), and
– Westdene (700 households).
The campaign is aimed at all customers – residential and business – but initial preference will be given to those experiencing problems such as lack of access to their properties to read meters, faulty meters and those affected by illegal connections.
“Electricity on a prepaid meter is cheaper because the prepaid system does not include additional charges as a post-paid meter would, such as service and network access charges. You only pay for what you consume on a prepaid meter, that way customers can manage their electricity consumption and avoid billing estimations,” Yumna said.
Residents who form part of the campaign will receive a notification from City Power alerting them of the meter replacement. After receiving this notification, the customer must call City Power on the number provided and arrange for the installation. Thereafter, an employee will arrive at the premises to remove the old meter and replace it with the prepaid meter.
“The newly installed prepaid meter will be preloaded with 10 units. The customer must go and buy units as soon as possible from one of the vendors supplying tokens. A list of these vendors is available online. Should a customer not respond to the City Power notice within seven days, the utility reserves the right to terminate supply,” Yumna said.
She reminded customers that the utility does not allow the use of private companies to install meters for them. The installation will be done solely on the prerogative and competence that lies with City Power.
Voltex, Actom and Landis & Gyr have been contracted by City Power to assist with the installation of the meters. They can all be identified by means of an access card bearing their name and surname, ID photo and an expiry date (if the card has already expired, the bearer is not authorised to work on the utility’s network). No contractor is allowed to work with someone else’s ID card.
“To verify if a person is an authorised contractor or City Power employee, residents should contact the Risk and Security department on 011 490 7553/ 7504/ 7900/ 7911,” Yumna said.
The City of Johannesburg’s 24-hour call centre can also be contacted on 0860 562 874 for any queries or information regarding this process.
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