Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has urged prepaid electricity customers to update their meters before the November 2024 deadline.
This, as the municipality started the process of updating prepared electricity meters in April 2022.
The programme is being implemented in phases to replace the old KNR1 meters with the new KNR2 system.
The municipality’s Electricity and Energy Portfolio Head, Zanele Sikawuti, commended customers for updating more than 146 921 meters to date.
She urged the remaining customers to join the programme, as the current devices will expire on 24 November 2024.
The directorate is employing various strategies, including door-to door visits, call centre assistance, and an enhanced communication drive to reach the thousands of residents who have not yet updated their meters.
A total of 1 263 meters were updated between 9 September and 4 October 2024.
“However, we still have 169 868 meters that need to be updated, including those that have been tampered with, damaged, or are faulty. We continue to urge all residents and business owners with prepaid electricity meters to update their meters before the current devices expire in November 2024,” Sikawuti said.
Sikawuti reiterated the municipality’s commitment to delivering an uninterrupted power supply to customers and ensured that the 24 November 2024 deadline would cause minimal disruption to electricity provision for all customers who purchase electricity.
She urged residents to cooperate with the municipal teams and be at home when they visit.
“Ward councillors have the information on when our teams will visit wards and residents must allow us access to their homes. The refusal of access has been a challenge and, while we understand there are various reasons for this, our teams are clearly identified as municipal workers.
“It is critical for customers to update their meters. After the deadline, they might be able to buy electricity, but tokens will not be accepted by the outdated meter,” Sikawuti said. – SAnews.gov.za
