The City of Cape Town is replacing old credit electricity meters with new prepaid smart meters. The rollout covers Claremont, Kenilworth and Wynberg. The compulsory programme runs from July to September.

The programme is free, but residents cannot refuse. Those who do may face disconnection. The City is replacing old credit meters and some older prepaid meters at no cost to the customer.

Residents will receive a letter in their post box with an appointment date. They have 14 days to respond. Installation takes about an hour.

What residents need to know

Alderman Xanthea Limberg, Mayco member for energy, said the meters help residents manage costs.

“One of the most important things for residents to know is that electricity costs are the same irrespective of the type of meter used. The meters do not supply electricity, they just measure usage,” she said.

“The new meters make it easier for residents to manage their electricity costs as they can see their usage in real-time. Importantly, they allow qualifying residents the opportunity to switch to the affordable subsidised Lifeline Tariff, which includes free basic electricity units.”

The Lifeline Tariff is available to qualifying low-income households. It includes a set amount of free power each month.

However, some residents in areas where the rollout has already taken place have reported problems. Some prepaid tokens show error messages such as “used,” “old” or “duplicate”. These residents fear losing money.

Scam warning

The City has warned residents to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a contractor. All authorised workers must carry a City-issued identification card. It must show the City logo, the staff member’s name, photograph and a work order number.

Community response

Ward 59 councillor Mikhail Manuel, for Claremont, Kenilworth and Newlands, said residents had not yet raised concerns about the rollout.

He said residents generally raised three concerns when moving from credit to prepaid. Some believe it costs more. Others see no reason to change if the current system works. Some also question convenience.

“The tariff is exactly the same. Prepaid is never more or less,” he said. “The benefit is that you can see how much you are spending as a household. You can end up saving money rather than using and not knowing how much you spend.”

Manuel said the meters were City-owned and the programme was compulsory. “We need to trust that the meters are up to date. The shift is necessary to see what you spend.”

He said no one in his ward had reported token errors. There had also been no reports of suspicious people posing as contractors. However, he urged residents to remain cautious.

“Ask to see a City badge, or call me or the contractor so I can check on the City system and verify very quickly. The vast majority of the time it is legitimate people,” he said.

Manuel said residents were generally well informed about the rollout.

Meanwhile, Emile Langenhoven, Ward 62 councillor for Wynberg, said the rollout had been smooth in his area.

“I haven’t received complaints, nor any feedback from residents. No token errors, scams or delays have been reported to me,” he said. “The only thing I can say is that the rollout has been happening without complaints.”

What happens next

The City has scheduled Bishops Court, Constantia, Plumstead, Southfield and Diep River for the next phase from October to December.

Residents who missed their appointment or want to confirm their status can contact the City’s call centre. The number is 0860 103 089. They can also email electricitycustomer.support@capetown.gov.za

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