Today marks a crucial deadline for South African electricity consumers, especially the estimated 2.1 million so-called “zero buyers” who have been buying electricity without proper accounts. Eskom has issued an urgent plea for these customers to visit its service centres and regularise their accounts by the end of business today.Daphne Mokoena, an Eskom spokesperson, confirmed that customers who act within this grace period will not incur additional charges. They will receive immediate repairs or replacements for faulty meters and have their electricity supply restored.
“Eskom urges customers to act promptly to avoid penalties and service disruptions,” Mokoena advised.The backdrop to this initiative stems from an extensive Key Revision Number (KRN) rollover project, which aimed to curb electricity theft and empower legitimate consumers.
“When we started with this project, the number of zero buyers began decreasing. More than 400,000 customers have started purchasing electricity again after a lengthy hiatus,” Mokoena explained, underscoring the success of the project in engaging previously non-compliant consumers.Moreover, the utility company has issued around 100,000 tamper fines, with 15,000 customers having either partially or fully paid these penalties.
Mokoena stated, “Although the meter may have expired, we extended the period for pre-generated tokens so customers could continue buying electricity.”
The leniency serves as both a warning and an opportunity for customers to rectify their accounts before harsher measures are enforced.Beginning tomorrow, Eskom will revert to stricter protocols. The organisation intends to intensify the auditing of meters and installations, with penalties for non-compliance potentially soaring as high as R12,000. “From tomorrow, we will continue with our normal operations but will crack down on the zero buyers,” warned Mokoena. Repeat offenders could even face criminal charges.
Eskom’s current initiative is a pivotal effort to combat illegal electricity consumption, which not only impacts the power utility itself but also has broader implications for all consumers. In its ongoing fight against meter tampering and electricity theft, Eskom is calling on all affected customers to act swiftly, stating, “Resolve your issues within the grace period to avoid severe penalties and ensure your accounts are regularised.”
