In a strategic move aimed at enhancing efficiency and confronting energy challenges, City Power has initiated an expansive project to introduce smart meters across Johannesburg, at no cost to customers. City Power’s vigorous campaign includes the comprehensive auditing, replacement, and resetting of pre-paid meters at no expense to customers. The initiative, launched on Tuesday, 15 August 2023, coincides with the token identifier (TID) rollover project.
Entity spokesperson Isaac Mangena says the critical nature of replacing and resetting pre-paid meters prior to the TID rollover is underscored by the necessity of ensuring TID compliance for all smart pre-paid meters.
As a considerable proportion of the existing meters lack SMART technology, the process entails replacing non-SMART (legacy technology) meters with advanced technology equivalents and subsequently resetting them to TID compliance standards.
A pivotal milestone in this trajectory will be witnessed on 24 November 2024, when pre-paid meters operating on the obsolete technology will cease to provide electricity, necessitating the reset to avert exhaustion of available numbers in the credit token.
“Subscribers who have already purchased electricity units before the meter transition will experience a seamless transfer of units to the new meter,” Mangena explains.
He says City Power’s foray into the realm of smart meters is positioned to alleviate the persistent energy crisis.
By mitigating the impact of loadshedding, the incorporation of smart meters will bring respite to Johannesburg’s populace, commercial establishments, and the nation at large.
“The implementation of these innovative meters empowers us and our patrons to curtail electricity consumption through remote load-limiting functionalities, thereby contributing to the reduction of load-shedding instances,” he says.
The dexterity of City Power’s smart meters empowers timely load limiting in response to Eskom’s megawatt requirements and critical consumption levels. Notably, this transformative programme bears promising prospects for previously unmetered customers in less affluent regions, ensuring their access to smart meters.
Mangena emphasises that the pivotal integration will empower City Power to efficiently oversee and manage load distribution amidst the challenging backdrop of load shedding.
Facilitating bi-directional communication, the smart meters enable seamless remote interactions with customers, underscoring their integral role in efficient power management.
The deployment of City Power’s authorised agents, easily identifiable by their distinctive yellow TID-branded bibs or T-shirts, is a cornerstone of this undertaking. These knowledgeable representatives will carry valid ID cards adorned with personal information and expiration dates, signifying their authenticity.
With a corps of 200 authorised agents deployed in a systematic house-to-house approach, the initiative aims to audit up to 4,000 households daily.
Mangena says collaborative engagement with ward councillors has bolstered this initiative, instilling confidence in the community.
“We appeal to residents to extend their cooperation by granting access to our officials during the meter auditing process.”
The initiative also addresses security concerns arising from counterfeit meter reading credentials used by criminals to exploit unsuspecting residents. He urges customers to verify the credentials of TID agents by contacting the number indicated on their branded bibs or valid ID cards.
City Power’s customer contact centre, reachable at 0800 202925 or 011 490 7484, along with Service Delivery Centers’ (SDCs) customer desks, stands ready to extend support to patrons throughout this endeavour.
“Customers are strongly cautioned against making payments for TID meter resetting during this operation.”