City Power Rolls Out Smart Meters Free of Charge, South Africans Unmoved

• City Power has started installing smart meters in Johannesburg without charging residents a cent
• The rollout in August last year and the new smart meters are expected to save electricity during loadshedding
• South Africans are convinced government is only working this hard because elections are around the corner

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, has covered policy changes, the State of the Nation Address, politician-related news and elections at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News for over seven years. Do you have a hard news story you would like to share? Email tebogo.mokwena@briefly.co.za with CA in the subject line.

JOHANNESBURG – Johannesburg's City Power revealed that it has been rolling out smart meters for no cost since last year in August and continues to do so. City Power's new meters are expected to be a boost for residents during loadshedding.

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City Power installs smart meters

According to SABC News, City Power's smart meters allow users to know how much the electricity they have been using costs. City Power's board chairperson, Bonolo Ramokhele, said that the smart meters also have load limiting, which reduces the electricity consumed during loadshedding as long as the user switches off appliances like geysers and stoves.

South Africans disillusioned by government

South Africans on Facebook are disillusioned and don't regard the drive as something government with sincerity.

Jaco Steenkamp said:

"I'd rather take a bank loan and go completely off-grid before Eskom sets foot on my property."

Kerry Withers said:

"Another Agenda 2030 drive so that government can control your lives. Please don't do it! Ask any Australian."

Lundi Mnune Khova said:

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"Nothing is for mahala. Elections are around the corner. We are not stupid."

Mhs Mhs said:

"They are rolling these smart meters purely because there won't be an end to loadshedding."

Rosa Webster said:

"Another tender, corruption loading."

2 Johannesburg hospitals owe City Power millions

Similarly, Briefly News reported that Rahima Moosa and Helen Joseph hospitals owed City Power millions in unpaid electricity debt.

The hospitals received a notice that they should pay their bill, which amounted to R32 million.

Source: Briefly News