City Power Halts Prepaid Meter Conversions Until November Amid Concerns

City Power has announced a temporary suspension of all prepaid electricity meter conversions scheduled between 27 August and 1 November. The Johannesburg-based utility said the pause is necessary to address operational and financial concerns before continuing with the rollout.

The prepaid metering system, introduced in 2010, has been steadily expanded to Johannesburg customers. However, the utility is now taking a step back to ensure the process is handled “correctly and fairly.”

Issues Raised Over Billing and Tariffs

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena highlighted several issues that prompted the suspension.

“These concerns include customers who have converted to prepaid from postpaid meters but are not purchasing electricity, discrepancies in some accounts not being accurately reflected on City Power’s systems after conversion, and also the impact of prepaid tariff structures, which until July 2024, excluded fixed service and network charges,” said Mangena.

The utility company said it is investigating these matters thoroughly to ensure customers are billed correctly and that no irregularities remain in the system.

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City Power stressed that the suspension is temporary, with conversions expected to resume in November 2024, once the review is completed. The company reassured customers that the investigation aims to improve efficiency, enhance transparency, and prevent long-term billing issues.

The utility also emphasized that no customers will be left without service during this period, and those already on prepaid meters will continue operating as normal.

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