ELM launches first SA municipal AI Chatbot for pre-paid meter upgrade
“Lethabo”, the nifty AI Chatbot will assist you through the pre-paid meter migration process.
In a claimed SA first, the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) has launched a co-developed AI Chatbot to assist pre-paid electricity meter customers in its massive software upgrade to prevent a Y2K-style shut-down in November 2024.
Named “Lethabo”, the nifty AI Chatbot is now WhatsApp -ready and was developed for free, nada and niks for ELM by Galactic Energy, the pre-paid vending system service provider, ELM Municipal Manager April Ntuli has confirmed to Vaalweekblad.
Lethabo speaks English and Sesotho and with Afrikaans to follow soon.
Contact Lethabo now on WhatsApp at 087 250 2853 to access the necessary assistance to guide you through the software upgrade process for your pre-paid meter.
In expressing gratitude to Galactic Energy for Lethabo, Ntuli said it would revolutionise the huge pre-paid meter software upgrade necessary before 24 November 2024 to prevent an apocalyptic IT shutdown of expired software.
“This digital assistant affirms Emfuleni’s commitment to progressive customer service and technological adaptation in public utilities,” said ELM spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni.
Chatbot Lethabo now allows each resident account holder in Emfuleni to basically upgrade their own software effortlessly and without inconvenient intrusions.
The pre-paid software upgrade does not include BXC smart meters, which have an independent IT and support system.
ELM has an estimated 72 000 pre-paid meters of which only about 18 000 presently produce revenue for the cash-strapped local authority, which also has a massive debt burden and a deep-rooted culture of non-payment and electricity theft in the community to contend with.
Technically, Lethabo is described as an innovative AI WhatsApp Chatbot designed to guide residents through the pre-paid meter TID migration process.
Those consumers whose pre-paid meters are not upgraded in time will not be able to buy electricity from 24 November 2024, ELM spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni has warned.
Those presently experiencing difficulties on uploading electricity on an upgraded pre-paid meter can contact the ELM Electricity Control Room on: 087 310 3369 or 087 562 0425 or 087 562 0524 or via WhatsApp on 065 871 7483.
