Sol Plaatje Municipality says it is on track with its roll-out of smart meters, with a total of 12,300 single-phase prepaid electricity meters set to be installed in the city by March next year.
SOL PLAATJE Municipality says it is on track with its roll-out of smart meters, with a total of 12,300 single-phase prepaid electricity meters set to be installed in the city by March next year.
The National Treasury is funding the roll-out through a R100 million grant as part of a debt relief programme, with Vodacom serving as the appointed service provider.
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said Vodacom was giving away free data to enable prepaid users to download the app to track their electricity usage.
“The compact customer interface unit can be plugged in anywhere around the house, unlike the current units that are mounted on the wall,” added Mothibi.
He explained that the new meter box would not require any data to operate. “The SIM card is purely for communication purposes.”
Mothibi stated that new meters had already been introduced in Carters Glen, New Hillcrest, Hillcrest, Royldene, Newpark, Rhodesdene, and Beaconsfield as part of phase one of the project.
“Monument Heights and the Memorial Road area are next on the list. The municipality and ward councillors will keep residents informed about the roll-out schedule, with old, faulty and tampered meters also set to be replaced.”
He added that the smart meters would improve accuracy, reduce losses and enable residents to actively monitor their electricity usage.
“Smart metering technology allows the municipality to improve the revenue management capability and remedy electricity losses It benefits both the consumer and the municipality by putting the management of the utilities in the hands of the consumer, thereby eliminating interim and unpredictable billing.”
Mothibi pointed out that the installation of the meters was “not optional” and appealed to residents to allow the installers access to their homes.
“Their identities can be verified via the ward councillors and the call centre at 080 122 9010. Technicians will be easily identifiable in their blue work overalls and identity tags containing a photo and identity numbers which must be displayed.”
Meanwhile, residents in Chris Hani and Mzima streets handed over a petition to the municipality this week as they wish to purchase electricity directly from Eskom.
A community member, Joseph Voss, stated that residents were being cheated and overcharged. “We only get 48 units for R100. This is causing us undue hardships,” he said.
Mothibi encouraged residents to engage with their councillors and attend ward meetings.
“Community engagements will be held to inform the community about the upcoming budget and integrated development plan and explain the electricity tariffs. As a pro-poor municipality, we have solid plans of cushioning indigent households.”
He added that according to their cost of supply study, households and small businesses were fairly charged in comparison to Eskom customers.
“In fact, we are probably charging less. Equally, there have been persistent calls from some residents in Ritchie pleading for the municipality to be their supplier instead of Eskom.” Mothibi said.
