Trouble brewing for prepaid electricity meters

Prepaid electricity meters in the capitol city Tshwane are coming under scrutiny. Metro authorities are threatening a R75 000 fine for anyone found bypassing or tampering with them. However, it turns out the situation is not quite as straightforward as just that.

Because the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) is fielding a growing number of complaints from residents who say they are being wrongly accused. It explains that a resident might report a power problem, but it all takes a turn with a municipal technician arrives …

PREPAID ELECTRICITY METERS

Often without the spare parts needed for a proper fix, the technician bypasses the prepaid electricity meter as a temporary workaround. Shortly thereafter, an inspector visits the same property and accuses the resident of tampering.

The same residents say they’re then approached by individuals offering to make the fine disappear for an off-the-books cash payment. As such, the FF+ reports that two Tshwane residents have laid criminal complaints with the police over the racketeering scheme.

BILLIONS LOST BY ESKOM

As ever, illegal electricity connections cost the state-run power utility billions. Eskom has recorded a R8.15 billion non-technical loss through electricity theft since 28 February 2026. Moreover, ‘ghost vending,’ the use of illegally generated prepaid tokens, contributes to R23 billion in lost revenue annually nationwide.

According to the Department of Electricity and Energy, around 1.7-million homes consume electricity illegally. And Eskom has targeted 971 distribution feeders hit hardest by overloading due to unauthorised connections. In Tshwane specifically, authorities have uncovered 2 339 manipulated meters. Part of the reason the city is phasing in new smart prepaid meters designed to reduce tampering and load reduction.

TSHWANE’S RESPONSE

Meanwhile, the city says no official or technician is authorised to accept cash for work on site. Any fines levied against an account take place via approved, gazetted tariffs only. Moreover, the city urges residents who receive suspicious demands to lay a criminal case with the police immediately.

Keep reference numbers for all electricity complaints, and photograph prepaid electricity meters before and after any technician visit. Formal disputes can be lodged with the city directly at disputes@tshwane.gov.za.

But what do you think? Have you had any issues with prepaid electricity meters in your area? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …