Time is running out for prepaid customers to regularise their electricity accounts with Eskom.
Image: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP.
Friday marks the end of the grace period for zero buyers who needed to sort out their Eskom accounts.
Eskom said that customers who visited Eskom centres by this date and settled any outstanding tamper fines will have their meters repaired or replaced, electricity supply restored, and accounts regularised without additional charges.
Customers who miss the deadline will face penalties and service disruptions, according to Eskom.
"Eskom has been running its most recent campaigns over the last 18 months appealing to electricity users to come forward and do what is right by regularising accounts and buying electricity from legal vendors," Eskom said.
Eligible households are also encouraged to check their qualification for the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) grant, which provides 50kWh of electricity per month.
After the completion of the Key Revision Number (KRN) rollover project, 5.4 million prepaid customers were successfully transitioned, including 400,000 former zero buyers, to the updated KRN2 system.
Eskom said: The project, combined with a comprehensive data cleanup, has increased Eskom’s customer base from 6.91 million to 7.25 million."
"To date, approximately 100,000 customers have received tamper fines, with 15,000 fines already fully or partly paid. However, there are still zero buyers who need to take action to comply with the requirements."
Zero buyers who bought electricity tokens before November 24, 2024 but are experiencing issues loading them are advised to visit Eskom centres by December 13, 2024 for assistance.
According to Eskom, customers with lost, tampered, or bypassed meters are also urged to come forward so their cases can be resolved.
"Tamper fines will be assessed, and necessary meter updates or replacements will be scheduled," Eskom said.
Customers who have visited Eskom centres and received a reference number can complete their tamper fine payments online or at the bank without needing to go back to the center. Eskom will keep customers updated via SMS.
Customers are reminded that Eskom centers do not accept cash payments and they should not offer cash at any location.
Starting from December 14 2024, Eskom will be intensifying the auditing of meters and installations.
This will include issuing tamper fines, potentially up to R12,000, and could involve criminal charges for repeated offenses.
"Eskom encourages customers to resolve their issues within the grace period to avoid these severe penalties and ensure their accounts are regularised," the power generator said.
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