TSHWANE mass roll out of forced pre-paid meters

[ekkekan]

Anyone also seen the letter that all post paid meters will be replaced by pre-paid without customers asking for it and you also cannot decline it.

Is this true or FAKE.

I just saw the letter to this effect.

It lists the current meter number as well as the new pre-paid number.

Not a single number or even the switchboard is being answered. So called outside office hours even before 15h00.

[Ontdekker]

How or where did you see this letter?

[AwieT]

It's sort of true. It's not a blanket roll out though. They are targeting all 'problematic' accounts and replacing them with prepaid meters.

[Olyfboer]

Excellent idea. They did that in Cape Town about 40 years ago. You had no choice either. Or rather you had a choice - no meter no electricity. You were also given about a month's worth of electricity to tide you over for the month before you had to buy electricity. That little investment by the city has paid off handsomely.

[ekkekan]

It's sort of true. It's not a blanket roll out though. They are targeting all 'problematic' accounts and replacing them with prepaid meters.

Our security comitee member placed it on the WA group and I got confirmation from our council member that it will be rolled out street by street after the problematic consumers.
It comes pre loaded with 5 units of power.

[Patrick L]

I guess it makes sense to get everyone onto pre-paid meters at some stage, and upgrade should be as council requires -first delinquent accounts, then compliant ones only as general rollout is practical and affordable.

Just be aware of possibly being 'force-fed' the meters because a politically connected crony wants to quickly sell thousands of meters/installations at inflated prices.

Best to get info from your local councilor, and find out details of the supply/installation tender.

Remember 'Edison Power' - Vivian Reddy ? ..plenty of news archive on him..

-one of JZ cronies who got the huge bloated contract for Gauteng meters some years ago. This man has gone so far as to throw lavish personal parties for the ex-pres. JZ and his clan, besides his very strong connection in general to all Zumas between Umhlanga Rocks and Nkandla, and probably a good few brown parcels/suitcases besides.

-don't really want to fund them more, does one....?!

[lekhubu943]

I am curious where City of Tshwane is going to find the funds for such a massive roll out. There is barely money for basic maintenance like replacing street lights and filling potholes.

[Morne - Skip]

I am curious where City of Tshwane is going to find the funds for such a massive roll out. There is barely money for basic maintenance like replacing street lights and filling potholes.

Yup, and current waiting list for a pre-paid meter (direct from tshwane, not the 3rd parties) is 2 years. So their massive roll out should be complete in 20 years.

[lekhubu943]

Yup, and current waiting list for a pre-paid meter (direct from tshwane, not the 3rd parties) is 2 years. So their massive roll out should be complete in 20 years.

And I bet the new meters will either be stolen, broken or bypassed pretty quick.

[ekkekan]

And I bet the new meters will either be stolen, broken or bypassed pretty quick.

With many properties the meters are inside the property. Some quite open on a stoep so security to tamper with will always be a challenge.

[BruceHun]

And I bet the new meters will either be stolen, broken or bypassed pretty quick.

I have meters in two properties. Work very well and my electricity bill has dropped in both. As far as I know You cannot bypass the meter as it will ping the ‘control room’ as soon as it is offline. They can also remotely turn off your supply if you don’t pay rates etc.

[lekhubu943]

Fair enough, so not easy to bypass, but I believe anything can be broken in Africa.

My question still stands: how will City of Tshwane fund this?

[BruceHun]

If I’m not mistaken, eskom are funding as it will guarantee them payment

[River Rat]

If I’m not mistaken, eskom are funding as it will guarantee them payment

The question still stands where will Eskom get the money?

[Toxxyc]

My meter in Tshwane is broken to bits. Batteries don't stay in, loses connection, etc. They still haven't come to replace it, and I've asked.

[Prof]

My meter in Tshwane is broken to bits. Batteries don't stay in, loses connection, etc. They still haven't come to replace it, and I've asked.

You should know by now new is easier than repair.

[Dez]

Ii have no problem if I buy direct from |Tshwane mun BUT I have a unit in a complex in PTA. Arrived there one night after a long day and needeD to shower and prepare for a meetiing the next day. had an ice cold shower (which I do not enjoy)and prepared for the meeting with a rechargeable light which we keep in the unit fortunately.Needless to say the Managing Agent had not paid the electricity bill and the entire complex was "electricity free". Even though we all had up to date paid up pay as you go meteres. It seems that the prepaid you buy actally then pays the complex who is responsible for the account with the municipality. This does not work for me!1!

[Olyfboer]

The meters in Cape Town are installed inside the home. Sometimes inside a kitchen cupboard. or where the owner wants it. Tampering registers at the city council. Alarm reports are generated when much less electricity is used than normal indicating a bypass with the meter active. In complexes the money goes straight to the city and not the complex owner so only those who don't pay get cut off.

[ekkekan]

The meters in Cape Town are installed inside the home. Sometimes inside a kitchen cupboard. or where the owner wants it.

Those that I have seen in Pta only have a keypad in the house fed from a socket. Seems like I have a defaulter in my street as he got this smart meter installed on Monday

[Mtber]

Anyone also seen the letter that all post paid meters will be replaced by pre-paid without customers asking for it and you also cannot decline it.

Is this true or FAKE.

I just saw the letter to this effect.

It lists the current meter number as well as the new pre-paid number.

Not a single number or even the switchboard is being answered. So called outside office hours even before 15h00.

There was a process a while ago.... it was suspended due to fraud.
I think, as mentioned now, it's only being done with problematic accounts.