Mbombela Residents Urged for Urgent Meter Upgrade

With the deadline looming, residents across Mbombela are urged to upgrade their prepaid electricity meters before November 24. This mandatory upgrade, introduced by the City of Mbombela and Eskom, addresses the technical need to reset vending codes on all standard transfer specification (STS) meters. Failing to upgrade will result in prepaid meters no longer accepting new credit tokens once the existing credit expires.

City of Mbombela’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, confirmed that while time remains, residents should avoid last-minute upgrades to ensure a smooth transition. Although some reports have suggested a March 2025 extension for municipal customers, the November deadline remains effective for the immediate rollout.

Why Upgrade is Necessary

Prepaid meters in South Africa, equipped with unique vending codes, are set to experience a “token identifier (TID) rollover” due to the expiration of the coding range established in 1993. This change will prevent these meters from loading purchased tokens without recording.

Upgrade Process

To upgrade your meter:

1. Purchase two “key change tokens” from a local or online vendor.
2. Enter the first 20-digit code and wait for confirmation.
3. Enter the second 20-digit code, followed by your purchased token for recharge.

FAQs

• What happens if I don’t recode?
  Your meter will no longer load purchased tokens, rendering it inoperative.
• Are new meters needed?
  No, the meters remain the same; only a code update is required.
• Will vendors guide me?
  Yes, Eskom-approved vendors are briefed to assist customers in obtaining the required tokens.
• Is home access needed?
  No, customers perform the recording independently, with no need for Eskom personnel on-site.

Next Steps

Residents are advised to stay alert for updates from Eskom regarding active areas for recording. To avoid service disruptions, it is critical to adhere to the upgrade process promptly.