Cape Town: Member of the Mayoral Committee for Energy – Alderman Xanthea Limberg led the section-79 Energy Portfolio Committee. She conducted an oversight visit to the prepaid electricity meter testing lab of the City of Cape Town, along with the Chairperson Councillor – Zimkhitha Sulelo.
Reportedly, Members of the Portfolio Committee has gained insights into how the electricity meters are tested and calibrated before installation in residents’ homes.
Considering this, the Portfolio Committee Chair – Councillor Zimkhitha Sulelo said that the visit forms part of the Energy Portfolio Committee’s oversight work, in line with the Municipal Systems Act (Act-32 of 2000). At the visit, members of the S-79 Committee saw the ongoing efforts of the City of Cape Town to strengthen the transparency and provide assurance to residents that all City installed prepaid meters meet strict national standards for accuracy, safety and reliability.
Sulelo added that during the visit, the technical teams of the lab has demonstrated the meticulous testing processes which applied to every single meter before installation. Members of the Portfolio Committee were taken on an in-depth tour of the facility by the lab’s technical and support teams.
The expert insights and preparedness to engage them openly, gave detailed answers to the questions which thoroughly impressed the committee. The visit not only underscored the Energy Portfolio Committee’s commitment to fulfil the statutory oversight duties in the public interest, but it has also reinforced confidence in the lab’s accuracy testing and calibration processes.
Notably, there are over 600,000 electricity prepaid meters that are currently in use across the city. The lab plays an important role in maintaining trust in the City’s electricity services to residents. The City of Cape Town is one of a few municipalities in South Africa, which conducts its own meter accuracy testing.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Energy – Alderman Xanthea Limberg said that the prepaid meter testing lab of the City of Cape Town is a truly remarkable facility. While Original Equipment Manufacturers conduct their own quality assurance tests, the City takes accuracy inspections further, by rigorously testing and calibrating every single meter before they are installed in residents’ homes. The strict meter testing protocols are aligned to mandatory national regulatory requirements under the SANS 474 / NRS 057 metering standards.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure or AMI meters, which are typically used by the Cash-For-Power customers are also tested and calibrated at this facility. Ensuring all residents who receive meters that are accurate and of the best quality. The lab’s technical teams keep electronic and physical record of meters for audit purposes and to support the Retail Management unit with account queries and investigations.
Through the work done at this facility, the City of Cape Town ensures residents to receive accurate readings, paying for exactly the amount of electricity they consume. Limberg further stated that electricity meters remain the property and forms part of the critical infrastructure of the city.
The ongoing investment in smart meter technology supports improved service delivery and enables access to the subsidised Lifeline tariff for qualifying households. Smart metering also helps with detecting irregular usage and tampering.