Eskom has issued a final warning to all prepaid electricity users to recode their meters before the 24 November 2024 deadline or face disconnection.
Story Summary:
- Eskom customers using prepaid meters must update their meters before 24 November 2024 to continue purchasing electricity tokens.
- The update is necessary to switch to Key Revision Number (KRN) 2, which will prevent meter inoperability.
- Eskom provides an easy Do-It-Yourself guide for recoding meters, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply.
Eskom warns prepaid meters must be recoded before deadline
According to the power utility, around 6.9 million prepaid meters in Eskom-supplied areas will stop functioning after this deadline unless updated to the new Key Revision Number (KRN) 2 system.
The KRN 2 system is like a secret code that helps keep the power company’s systems safe from hackers.
It changes the code often so that no one can break in and mess with how electricity is sent to homes or how much people use.
It’s kind of like changing your password often to make sure no one can guess it.
Without this update, customers will be unable to load electricity tokens, meaning their meters will become inoperable.
Eskom stresses that there will be no extensions to the deadline, and urges customers who have not yet updated their meters to act quickly to avoid service disruptions.
The utility has already prepared 97% of meters for recoding, making it a simple Do-It-Yourself (DIY) process for most customers.
How to recode your prepaid meter
Updating your prepaid meter is straightforward.
Follow these steps to recode your meter before the deadline:
- Purchase an electricity token: Visit any authorised vendor or use Eskom’s online services to buy a token.
- Receive your codes: When purchasing your electricity token, you will receive two sets of 20-digit numbers (codes).
- Enter the first code: Input the first 20-digit code into your prepaid meter. Wait for the meter to process and accept it.
- Enter the second code: Once the first code is accepted, input the second 20-digit code into the meter.
- Confirmation: If both codes are entered successfully, your meter is now updated and ready to accept future electricity tokens.
- Seek assistance if needed: If you encounter any issues or need help with the process, contact Eskom’s customer service on 0860 037 566 or visit their website for guidance.