Prepaid Meter Deadline Looms: What You Need To Know
A pre-paid electricity meter in Cape Town, South Africa, on Thursday, March 3, 2022. Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., South Africas indebted power utility, is considering selling distribution assets as prospects of the government taking over about half of its 392 billion rand ($26 billion) obligations dim, people with knowledge of the matter said. Photographer: Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A crucial deadline for South African electricity consumers is fast approaching. If you haven’t already, it’s imperative to re-code and update your prepaid meter before Sunday, 24 November.
Why is this important?
Prepaid meters using Key Revision Number 1 (KRN1) will become obsolete after this date. Once your current credit is depleted, your meter will cease to function, leaving you without electricity. This will necessitate a costly meter replacement, potentially amounting to R12,000.
How to Re-code and Update Your Meter:
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Verify Your Meter’s Status:
- Enter the code 1844 6744 0738 4377 2416 on your meter keypad.
- If the display shows 1 or 1.2, your meter needs re-coding.
- If it shows 2 or 2.2, your meter is already updated.
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Re-code Your Meter:
- Purchase an electricity token from an authorized vendor.
- You will receive two sets of 20-digit codes: one for re-coding and one for recharging.
- Enter the first 20-digit re-code token into your meter.
- Enter the second 20-digit re-code token.
- Finally, enter the 20-digit token from your latest electricity purchase to recharge your meter.
Don’t Miss the Deadline:
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has emphasized that the 24 November deadline is non-negotiable. Missing this cutoff will result in significant costs for consumers.
Eskom’s Daphne Mokwena explained that the 30-year lifespan of the KRN1 meters has reached its end, and there’s no extension possible. She urged consumers to visit authorized vendors to purchase electricity tokens and obtain the necessary re-code codes.
Take Action Now:
To avoid potential power outages and costly meter replacements, ensure you re-code and update your prepaid meter before the deadline.
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