The Section 79 Energy Portfolio Committee, led by Chairperson Councillor Zimkhitha Sulelo and Mayoral Committee Member, Alderman Xanthea Limberg, conducted an oversight visit to the City’s prepaid electricity meter testing lab. Members of the Portfolio Committee gained insights into how electricity meters are tested and calibrated before installation in residents’ homes.
‘The visit forms part of the Energy Portfolio Committee’s oversight work, in line with the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000). At the visit, members of the S79 Committee saw the City’s ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency and provide assurance to residents that all City installed prepaid meters meet strict national standards for accuracy, safety, and reliability.
‘During our visit, the lab’s technical teams demonstrated the meticulous testing processes applied to every single meter before installation. Members of the Portfolio Committee were taken on an in-depth tour of the facility by the lab’s technical and support teams. Their expert insights and preparedness to engage us openly, as well as their detailed answers to our questions thoroughly impressed the committee. The visit not only underscores the Energy Portfolio Committee’s commitment to fulfil our statutory oversight duties in the public interest, but it has also reinforced confidence in the lab’s accuracy testing and calibration processes,’ said the Portfolio Committee Chair, Councillor Zimkhitha Sulelo.
There are more than 600 000 electricity prepaid meters currently in use across the city, the lab plays an important role in maintaining trust in the City’s electricity services to residents. The City of Cape Town is one of a few municipalities in South Africa, which conducts its own meter accuracy testing.
‘The City’s prepaid meter testing lab is a truly remarkable facility. While Original Equipment Manufacturers conduct their own quality assurance tests, our City takes accuracy inspections further, by rigorously testing and calibrating every single meter before they are installed in residents’ homes. Our strict meter testing protocols are aligned to mandatory national regulatory requirements under the SANS 474 / NRS 057 metering standards.
‘Advanced Metering Infrastructure or AMI meters, which are typically used by our Cash-For-Power customers are also tested and calibrated at this facility. Ensuring all residents receive meters that are accurate and of the best quality. The lab’s technical teams keep electronic and physical record of meters for audit purposes and to support our Retail Management unit with account queries and investigations. Through the work done at this facility, the City ensures residents receive accurate readings, paying for exactly the amount of electricity they consume.
‘Electricity meters remain the City’s property and form part of our critical infrastructure. Our ongoing investment in smart meter technology supports improved service delivery and enables access to the subsidised Lifeline tariff for qualifying households. Smart metering also helps with detecting irregular usage and tampering,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.
Prepaid Meter tampering
The City has some of the most advanced meter monitoring and testing operations in the country. Suspected meter tampering or bypassing investigations happen on a daily basis, and can be checked against longer-term usage data.
Meter tampering is an illegal act. The theft of electricity hurts the City’s ability to pay for service delivery and it will push up electricity prices for all. Our new smart prepaid electricity meters are there to protect our customers, as they have five built-in warnings to indicate tampering before the meter switches off.
Meter replacement programme
New, smarter electricity meters continue to be rolled out in different areas of the metro in phases. This programme is compulsory and free, helping customers in many ways by reducing the risk of incorrect readings, improving energy usage for residents and enabling qualifying customers to benefit from the subsidised Lifeline tariff. Electricity meters belong to the City, and reasonable access to test, replace and monitor the meters is required by law. It is this focus on infrastructure investment that makes Cape Town stand apart from other metros. Investment in infrastructure is of great benefit to customers as well.
Fast facts about the replacement programme
- Compulsory programme
- Meter replacement enables Lifeline tariff benefits
- New meters do not ‘use’ more electricity, they merely measure the usage
- No difference in usage of electricity between the old and new meters
- New meters are part of an investment in accurate and new electrical infrastructure
- Electricity meters are the property of the City and reasonable access to the premises is required in terms of the law
Contact the City’s Customer Call Centre: 0860 103 089 for enquiries.
