Eskom is urging customers with prepaid electricity meters to update their devices to the latest Key Revision Number (KRN) 2 by 24 November— or risk facing hefty costs for a replacement. The power utility has issued a firm warning that, after the deadline, prepaid meters still operating on the older KRN1 will become inoperable and customers could face a bill of up to R12,000 for a new meter.
The deadline is fast approaching, and Eskom is stressing that there will be no extensions. “Meters using KRN1 will no longer accept electricity tokens after 24 November,” warned Monde Bala, Eskom’s distribution executive. “To prevent the meter from becoming inoperable and incurring replacement costs, customers must purchase electricity tokens from authorised vendors before the deadline.”
This update requires customers to buy two sets of 20-digit codes, which can be used to re-code and update the meter. Eskom has urged everyone, even those who haven’t bought electricity in the last six months or more, to act quickly to avoid the consequences of an outdated meter.
However, South Africans are raising significant questions about the process and the broader implications. Some customers are wondering why Eskom isn’t taking a more proactive approach to the upgrade.
One concerned individual, Prosperity Progress, asked: “So, if the person who bridged the meter is an Eskom worker, what do we do?” This refers to the practice of “bridging” meters—essentially tampering with them to bypass the normal billing process—which, if done by Eskom employees, raises serious issues of accountability and trust.
Others, like Chris China, raised broader concerns, questioning the fairness of tenants being required to update meters they didn’t install: “1—Why are tenants required to update prepaid meters supplied by the municipality? 2—The Energy Department must be able to update these meters remotely,” he suggested.
Modi Qho, a tenant, voiced frustration over a meter that had been bridged long before their tenancy began, asking: “What happens to me if I didn’t bridge the meter?”
The requirement to update prepaid meters has stirred confusion, particularly for renters who may not have been aware of the meter’s status or issues when moving in. While Eskom maintains that customers are responsible for ensuring their meters are up-to-date, the lack of clarity around the role of landlords, municipalities, and Eskom itself in meter maintenance leaves many with more questions than answers.
As the deadline approaches, South Africans are grappling with not just the inconvenience of having to update their meters, but also with the looming threat of a large financial penalty if they fail to comply. With many people still uncertain about the exact steps they need to take, Eskom’s messaging will need to be clearer in the coming days to avoid widespread confusion and frustration among customers.
