Good news: Cape Town’s electricity meter software upgrade programme nears completion

‘By December 2024, all prepaid electricity meters in the country must be updated or customers will not be able to recharge their units via their meters. The City of Cape Town’s prepaid meter update programme has been carried out successfully in a phased manner across the metro. We have reached 99% of prepaid meters and our progress is far ahead of many municipalities across the country with some indicating they are at about the halfway mark.

‘Approximately 604 500 meters have been updated and our teams are doing mop up operations to assist residents with their update where needed.

‘Residents are encouraged to contact our Call Centre on 0860 103 089 for assistance. Please remember that our teams carry identification and work order numbers and residents may contact the City’s call centre for verification,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen.

How do I know if my meter has already been updated?

Residents may contact the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089 for assistance if they are unsure about whether their meter has been updated.

How will I know if it’s my turn?

Eligible customers will notice they are due for the update when they make a purchase and see the update codes. When making a purchase, customers will receive two 20-digit update codes along with their usual prepaid token.

Customers may follow these easy steps to enter the update codes:

1. Enter the first20-digit update code and wait for it to accept.
2. Enter the second20-digit update code and wait for it to accept.
3. Enter theusual 20-digit token to recharge units as normal.

• SMS: 31220
• Email:power@capetown.gov.za
• Phone: Call Centre: 0860 103 089

City teams are standing by to assist households with the updates. Teams carry identification and work order numbers. Phone the City’s call centre for verification.

Frequently asked questions – Prepaid electricity meter software update (token identification update – TID)

1. Why must prepaid electricity meters be updated?

Pre-paid meters must be updated or you won’t be able to recharge your meter with new tokens and won’t have power supply. Updates to the software of prepaid electricity meters happened in a phased approach across the metro to ensure all meters were updated ahead of the deadline.

1. Which meters must be updated?

1. By when must meters be updated?

1. Will all customers be able to update their meters immediately?

1. How should meters be updated?

Follow these easy steps to enter your update codes WHEN your area is scheduled for the update:

• Enter the first 20 digits update code and wait for it to accept.
• Enter the second 20 digits update code and wait for it to accept.
• Enter your 20 digits token to recharge your units as normal.

1. Will the update codes work on all types of pre-paid electricity meters?

1. For how long are the update codes valid?

1. What happens if I throw away my slip, will I be able to get the two 20-digit codes again?

1. What if I can’t update my own meter?

1. How do I verify whether a person coming to my home to assist me with an update is from the City?

1. Will my area be visited again?

1. I am in line for the City’s ongoing meter replacement programme (to replace old infrastructure), will the new meter be software compliant once installed? Would I need to update the code?

1. Will my old unused tokens still work after the upgrade?

1. Will my electricity meter use more electricity after the software update?

1. Will my electricity units disappear or decrease when the meter is updated?

Residents may contact the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089 for assistance.