Eskom will begin installing smart meters at Malibu Village in Blue Downs on Wednesday 12 November, as part of an ongoing rollout in the Western Cape that started in Table View in October.
The installation programme follows Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s announcement of plans to end load reduction within 12 to 18 months.
Government data indicates that around 800 000 smart meters have been installed nationally, with a target of 6.2 million units by 2027.
Programme details
The smart meter rollout, already underway in selected areas, is now expanding to additional neighbourhoods.
Eskom has indicated that community cooperation will be essential for meeting the timeline objectives.
According to Eskom, the programme aims to modernise the national grid and improve customer service delivery.
Customer impact
The new meters will allow prepaid customers to:
• Monitor electricity usage in real time
• Access more detailed consumption data
• Receive automated balance updates
• Use enhanced self-service options
Eskom states that the technology will reduce billing disputes through more accurate readings.
Installation requirements
Residents in targeted areas need to ensure installation teams can access meter boxes safely. Eskom has appointed contractors to carry out the work alongside its own teams.
What is a smart meter?
A smart meter is an advanced type of digital electricity meter that records when, and how much, electricity is consumed and deducts the amount consumed from a prepaid balance loaded by the customer.
• The smart prepayment split metering solution is made up of the meter and the Customer Interface Unit (CIU).
• The meter and CIU communicate with each other remotely, enabling the CIU to display exactly what your electricity credit balance is.
• The smart meter allows you to view near real-time electricity usage over time and helps you manage your consumption.
• Smart prepaid meters are capable of two-way communication between the meter and Eskom. This enables Eskom to read information off the meter, detect power outages and meter tampering and to send information to the meter such as programming updates.
• Automated instructions are also sent to the meter to interrupt the power supply when your prepaid account balance reaches zero, and to reconnect supply once you have loaded credit.
Officials describe the technology as a key component in addressing load reduction by improving demand management and supply stability.
The smart meter programme comes amid ongoing electricity supply challenges that have affected communities across South Africa. Load reduction has been implemented in various areas as a measure to manage demand on the grid.
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