By Libuseng Nyaka
QWAQWA – The Deputy minister of Cooperate Governance Parks Tau has reiterated the importance of replacing the current prepaid electricity meter boxes, to avoid being unable to purchase electricity as the new system will not recognize the current tokens by November this year.
Tau said this while addressing the residents of Maluti-a-Phofung during the signing of a Distribution Agreement Agency (DAA) between Eskom and Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality on Tuesday May 7, 2024.
He said the current prepaid meters will phase out by November 2024 after which consumers will not be able to purchase electricity using old prepaid meters.
“We must work together with the community, municipality and Eskom to ensure that from now to November more than 160 000 households are installed with new prepaid meters. So we sign this agreement, and Eskom will take over the responsibilities of the municipality in relation to the electricity distribution part of their work. This is to ensure that by November you can purchase electricity after the installation of the new prepaid meters. Sometimes I suspect we do not spend enough time to explain to the people the risks of not replacing prepaid meters.
Prior to the signing of the DAA, council speaker Mandlankosi Dlamini used a special council sitting to urge residents to allow officials of the municipality to install new smart meters in their homes, in line with the new system has been introduced.
Deputy Minister Corporate Governance abd Traditional Affairs Sparks Tau.
“We applied for debt relief from the national treasury and qualified for the smart meter grant for the municipality to enhance our revenue collection. The grant is going to be approved once our council has resolved on it.”
However, Democratic Alliance’s Alison Oates said attempts to change prepaid meters have been disastrous.
“The attempt to install smart meters was disastrous. It was so bad that we are still waiting for the final report. It was so complicated and bad. Honestly, let us wait until Wednesday after the signing of the distribution agency agreement with Eskom so that we can know the way forward,” Oates said.
