Cape Town rolls out mandatory electricity meters
Cape Town is rolling out free smart prepaid electricity meters in areas like Woodstock and Salt River from April to June 2025.
The City of Cape Town is pushing ahead with its plan to modernise the electricity system by rolling out smart prepaid electricity meters in various neighbourhoods, including Woodstock, Salt River, Observatory, and Foreshore.
The upgrade is scheduled to take place between April and June 2025. It forms part of the Energy Directorate’s broader efforts to improve service delivery and billing accuracy.
Replacing outdated meters to improve energy use
In a bid to enhance customer experience and give households more control over electricity consumption, the City has made the replacement of old credit and prepaid meters compulsory. According to officials, the new smart meters will ensure accurate readings, reduce billing disputes, and enable qualifying customers to access Free Basic Electricity through the Lifeline Tariff.
“Our meter replacement programme is beneficial for residents,” said Alderman Xanthea Limberg, the Mayoral Committee Member for Energy.
“The new meters help with managing costs, ensures accurate readings and assists residents to control and monitor usage.”
The city also clarified that switching to the new smart meters will not affect electricity prices, which remain unchanged regardless of the type of meter used.
The city outlines the installation process and resident cooperation
As the rollout continues, households will be contacted via phone or written notice to schedule an installation date. The City is urging residents to cooperate and allow officials access to their properties. It emphasises that electricity meters are municipal assets and that the law requires residents to grant access.
“We encourage all residents to work with us as we continue to roll out these meters across the metro,” Limberg added.
Residents can verify installation appointments or check the identity of officials by calling the City’s Call Centre at 0860 103 089.
Public safety and fraud prevention
To safeguard against potential fraud, the City is reminding residents to demand proper identification from anyone requesting access for meter installations. Staff members or contractors must present a City-branded ID with a clear photo and full name. If they notice suspicious behaviour, residents should report it to law enforcement or SAPS immediately.
The smart meter programme aims to build a more efficient and transparent electricity system while protecting households from inflated bills and meter tampering.