Limpopo residents experience power troubles due to meter boxes

With just a week left, Eskom electricity users in Limpopo, who have not yet recoded their meter boxes are experiencing power disruptions.

Scores of residents have visited Eskom to recode their electricity meter boxes ahead of the November 24 deadline.

After the above mentioned date, all Standard Transfer Specification compliant meters will stop accepting credit tokens.

Prepaid Electricity | Consequences of not upgrading meters by 24th November: Dr Silas Mulaudzi



Meters have been rejecting new electricity tokens, and consumers are required to recode them or get them programmed by the dispatched Eskom technicians.

Some consumers say they have been without electricity for months, as they are waiting for their prepaid boxes to be re-coded.

“After purchasing electricity, our meter refused to accept the codes, forcing us to rely on candles and firewood for cooking. We wake up early to boil water for our children’s school day, with no other options available. I am frustrated and helpless, bounced from one person to another without help.”

“My meter box can’t accept codes, crippling our daily life. Food storage is impossible due to non-functional fridges, which rely on electricity to operate.”

Voltex meter boxes

Meanwhile, Eskom’s Limpopo Customer Relations Manager, Matshidiso Phaladi says consumers, who are using Voltex meter boxes, that start with 2219, will need Eskom to re-program.

Phaladi says other meter boxes can be re-coded by consumers themselves, when purchasing electricity, using four unique tokens.

“Majority of them, is those that say we bought electricity but the meters are rejecting vouchers or I am unable to buy, so those we are giving them the 40 numbers so that they can recode the meters. Once we give them the 40 numbers, they don’t have to come here and we don’t have to go to them. It’s a DIY, they will go and punch the units, or they will go and buy and it’s a done deal.”