KIMBERLY - Five months after the rollout of the smart prepaid electricity meter boxes began, what was promised to be an efficient billing system has turned out to be a frustrating nightmare for most residents who now regret every moment of allowing the switch.
This comes after the Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality in the Northern Cape province rolled out its R100 million worth of meter box project to install the new prepaid boxes to 13,000 households from November 2024 to January this year.
Spokesperson for Sol Plaatjie Municipality Thabo Mothibi says smart metering is an initiative to replace traditional electricity meters with advanced smart meters to help residents track energy consumption efficiently, improve energy management, and save costs.
He says these meter boxes form part of a debt relief program for Sol Plaatjie to write off arrears’ debt owed to Eskom pointing out that the municipality owes Eskom just over R1 billion.
Mothibi also said the rollout was aimed at addressing faulty and bypassed meters through smart technology and replacing outdated electricity infrastructure.
Mothibi says currently a total of 15 000 smart meter boxes have been installed in Kimberly.
Unhappy Residents
However, the majority of residents whose prepaid meter boxes were replaced expressed their dissatisfaction and say they regret allowing the switch.
Residents are complaining that they now pay triple the amount that they used to pay for electricity.
Many of those who already have the boxes installed say that they are already looking for a way out of the smart boxes and some say they will deny installation team access into their homes.
Jess Chonga-Louw, from Riviera in Kimberley, said she had to do extreme life adjustments after the new meter was installed in her house in November 2024.
She says the municipality is not honest about the new electricity device.
She says she used to R5000 for electricity per month but. But with the new meter box, she spent more than R20 000 between November and December.
"I had to stop using the electricity stove, I disconnected the swimming pool, the air conditions, and all electrical appliances that we do not use a lot and that is how my bill dropped to around R8000, which is still too much," Chonga-Louw said.
An unemployed Blessing Molaodi from Club 2000 says she will never change her prepaid meter box. She refused the swap in February after seeing how much her neighbour was suffering.
"My neighbour is a pensioner and lives with her grandchildren.
"She loaded with R100 and it was finished in one day.
Molaodi says she has three children and her husband is also unemployed. They currently spend R400 on electricity for the whole month.
She says she is not prepared to move to the new meter box because she cannot afford it.
Activists React
Community Activists have come out guns blazing, calling for community members to reject the new boxes and not allow the installers entry into their homes.
Community Activist Herbert Miller says the introduction of the new meter boxes is just a way for the municipality to get revenue out of the residents.
He said with the new boxes, R100 electricity only lasts one day, compared to the older ones.
"Instead of making life easier for its poverty-stricken residents, the municipality drives them deeper into debt.
"This expensive electricity is just another scheme by the municipality to rip the poor off.
“ We have engaged the municipality about these new boxes, but we are still awaiting feedback, said Miller.
But Mothibi told Journal News that the smart meter boxes provide electricity consumption management. He says the municipality has received complaints from customers who do not understand the manual and how the meter boxes work and says each complaint will be attended to.
