Prepaid electricity meters

[Panther]

We would like to know the cost of installing prepaid electricity meters in the individual units of a block of flats.

We have also heard that one receives back on installation, electricity vouchers equal or higher in value than the cost of the meter.

Kindly provide fullest details.

Many thanks,

[Sparks]

Your location is shown as South Africa. Depending where in South Africa the whole procedure differs. As for getting the "cost" of the meter in credit, you must be joking, this is SA we live in.

[Leecatt]

We would like to know the cost of installing prepaid electricity meters in the individual units of a block of flats.

We have also heard that one receives back on installation, electricity vouchers equal or higher in value than the cost of the meter.

Kindly provide fullest details.

Many thanks,

Do your homework first and investigate the costs of electricity in your area.
In Ekurheleni pre paid electricity is more expensive that normal metering

[Martinco]

While we are on the subject.......................can anybody explain this ?

A summary made by a resident in Rustenburg with regards to the cost of pre-paid electricity

This is the record of Electricity for Alamein str


Date Time Amount Units Unit Price
29-Feb 250.00 274.2 0.91
7-Mar 250.00 274.2 0.91
2-Apr 250.00 274.2 0.91
20-Apr 250.00 274.2 0.91
23-May 500.00 548.3 0.91
1-Jul 500.00 554.4 0.90
25-Jul 500.00 399.0 1.25
4-Aug 500.00 519.8 0.96
24-Aug 100.00 91.3 1.10
29-Aug 100.00 78.4 1.28
31-Aug 3:51:00 P 30.00 23.5 1.28
31-Aug 4:30:00 PM 100.00 78.4 1.28
31-Aug 6:06:00 P 30.00 23.5 1.28
2-Sep 9:10:00 PM 100.00 116.8 0.86
2-Sep 9:28:00 PM 500.00 494.3 1.01
2-Sep 9:33:00 PM 100.00 78.4 1.28

Electricity bought for Bosch street
31-Aug 3:30:00 PM 30.00 39.8 0.75


Total 4090.00 4,142.7 Average 0.99

[Leecatt]

While we are on the subject.......................can anybody explain this ?

A summary made by a resident in Rustenburg with regards to the cost of pre-paid electricity

This is the record of Electricity for Alamein str


Date Time Amount Units Unit Price
29-Feb 250.00 274.2 0.91
7-Mar 250.00 274.2 0.91
2-Apr 250.00 274.2 0.91
20-Apr 250.00 274.2 0.91
23-May 500.00 548.3 0.91
1-Jul 500.00 554.4 0.90
25-Jul 500.00 399.0 1.25
4-Aug 500.00 519.8 0.96
24-Aug 100.00 91.3 1.10
29-Aug 100.00 78.4 1.28
31-Aug 3:51:00 P 30.00 23.5 1.28
31-Aug 4:30:00 PM 100.00 78.4 1.28
31-Aug 6:06:00 P 30.00 23.5 1.28
2-Sep 9:10:00 PM 100.00 116.8 0.86
2-Sep 9:28:00 PM 500.00 494.3 1.01
2-Sep 9:33:00 PM 100.00 78.4 1.28

Electricity bought for Bosch street
31-Aug 3:30:00 PM 30.00 39.8 0.75


Total 4090.00 4,142.7 Average 0.99

Without going into great detail, because the answers are on your town municipal website, the cost of electricity via prepaid gets more expensive the more you use
Ie. It may cost R1.00 per unit for the first 500 units, after that it will increase to R1.10 per unit for example. Once you go over 1200 units it may increase again. Although you are buying units from the corner cafe or checkers or wherever your electricity usgae is logged and is linked up and so you pay more the more you use. Like i said prepaid is expensive

[Martinco]

This still does not make sense !!

On the same day 2 Sept at 9:10 the guy bought R 100 and got 116.8 units.
At 9h33 he bought R100 and got 78.4 units. Something is screwed somewhere !

[Leecatt]

This still does not make sense !!

On the same day 2 Sept at 9:10 the guy bought R 100 and got 116.8 units.
At 9h33 he bought R100 and got 78.4 units. Something is screwed somewhere !

In my opinion he was under the threshold the first time and the second purchase took him into the next threshold

[Sparks]

Irrespective of whether you use prepaid or credit metering. The Electricity Commission approved implementation of the stepped scale. In Port Elizabeth it is R1.0409 per unit for the first 350 units per month, the next 250 units(351-600 for the same month) R1.2426. All usage above 600 units R1.4706. These rates are VAT incl.
Before buying prepaid during the last week of the month I suggest consumers first calculate as close as possible how much power they need to see the month through. On the 1st of each month consumers become elligible for 350 units @ the minimum rate.

[Leecatt]

Irrespective of whether you use prepaid or credit metering. The Electricity Commission approved implementation of the stepped scale. In Port Elizabeth it is R1.0409 per unit for the first 350 units per month, the next 250 units(351-600 for the same month) R1.2426. All usage above 600 units R1.4706. These rates are VAT incl.
Before buying prepaid during the last week of the month I suggest consumers first calculate as close as possible how much power they need to see the month through. On the 1st of each month consumers become elligible for 350 units @ the minimum rate.

Hi Sparks
There is a sliding scale method which is aimed at the low consumption user but for us other mortals our electricity price only changes twice, once in summer and again in winter. However this year the prices are the same. I have treunichated a report from the Ekhureleni Council (East Rand for those not living on the Highveld) to show how it works

According to the Ekhureleni Website I find the following:
Tarriff A is working on a sliding scale and is for low consumption users who use less that 650 KW per month.
I use anywhere around 1500 to 2000 units per month in my house.

TARIFF A (IBT)

· This tariff is available for all residential customers single-phase 230 V or multi-phase 400/230 V connections with a capacity of up to 80 A per phase.
· This tariff will suit low and medium consumption residential customers.
· This tariff is not available for medium and high voltage customers.
· This tariff is based on the inclining block principle, that is, the more units used, the higher the rate becomes.
The following charges will be payable:
Energy Charge (c/kWh)
July to June Inclining Block Rate Tariffs (IBTs) VAT exclusive
A.1 Block (1-50 kWh) R0.60,83c
A.2 Block (>50 to <=350 kWh) R0.75,09c
A.3 Block (>350 to <=600 kWh) R1.11,42c
A.4 Block (>600 to <=700 kWh) R1.22,21c
A.5 Block (>700 kWh) R2.00,00c
A.6 Flat rate in the case of a billing system that cannot accommodate the inclining block rate R0.80,00c

Note 1: Free Basic Electricity will be dealt with as specified in the FBE Policy, as revised on an annual basis.
Note 2: Customers converting to a prepayment meter, as well as a new connection with a prepayment meter, will receive a once-off allocation of 40 Kilowatt-hour units in the meter to allow time to purchase a new prepayment token. This allocation will be placed as an arrear amount on the prepayment meter account and will be recovered with the first monetary transaction.

The following is how my electricity is paid for

TARIFF B (RESIDENTIAL and BULK RESIDENTIAL)

· This tariff is available for all residential customers single-phase 230 V or multi-phase 400/230 V connections or bulk residential complexes, body corporate, locks of flats, etc that are used and zoned exclusively for residential purposes
· This tariff will suit medium to high consumption residential customers.


Fixed Charge R23.36 ex Vat

High Demand Season (June, July and August) R1.08c per unit ex VAt
Low Demand Season (September to May) R1.08c per unit ex Vat

I hope that this helps to alleviate the confusion surrounding this topic.

Regards
Lee

Relevant sources of information were gathered from the following sites:
http://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/residen...prepaid-meters (Jan 2011)
http://www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/residen...ricity-supply- (2012 electricity tariffs)

[Sparks]

Hi Leecatt, we also have 2 different rates, but the other one is for low income users only. Their total household income must be less than R1 700 per month to qualify. They then get their first 350 units at a lower rate and also get a reduction of all their other municipal service charges.

[Vanessa van Vliet]

@Panther
Cost of installation will vary depending on your current set-up and conditions in the building, as well as what type of meter you install. Conventional integrated meters and wireless meters are cheap to install (maybe around R150 per meter), split meters (meter unit and interface are separated) with a customer interface unit (keypad) will cost a bit more (around R350 per meter). Conventional meters are cheap to buy and wireless meters are more expensive (by about 50%). If you install a conventional split meter, it will cost you approximately R800 per meter. This, is assuming the installation is a simple retrofitting exercise with no additional electrical work required.
Some companies will lease the meter or allow you to buy it on hire purchase, you would have to find out by contacting them directly.

[Leecatt]

@Panther
Cost of installation will vary depending on your current set-up and conditions in the building, as well as what type of meter you install. Conventional integrated meters and wireless meters are cheap to install (maybe around R150 per meter), split meters (meter unit and interface are separated) with a customer interface unit (keypad) will cost a bit more (around R350 per meter). Conventional meters are cheap to buy and wireless meters are more expensive (by about 50%). If you install a conventional split meter, it will cost you approximately R800 per meter. This, is assuming the installation is a simple retrofitting exercise with no additional electrical work required.
Some companies will lease the meter or allow you to buy it on hire purchase, you would have to find out by contacting them directly.

Vanessa, may i ask where you obtained these rates?

[Martinco]

Hi Sparks
There is a sliding scale method which is aimed at the low consumption user but for us other mortals our electricity price only changes twice, once in summer and again in winter. However this year the prices are the same. I have treunichated a report from the Ekhureleni Council (East Rand for those not living on the Highveld) to show how it works

According to the Ekhureleni Website I find the following:
Tarriff A is working on a sliding scale and is for low consumption users who use less that 650 KW per month.
I use anywhere around 1500 to 2000 units per month in my house.

This is still Greek to me..............

I purchased from the municipal kiosk on Sept 25 2012 for R350 and got 402.9 Kwh = 87c/Kwh ( First purchase for the month )
Directly after that on the same day I purchased R 40 as a check and got 36.6 Kwh = R1.09 / Kwh.

On Oct 3 I purchased again R 350 and got 379.1 Kwh = 92 c/Kwh ( Again first purchase for the month )

So this does not make any sense !

[Leecatt]

This is still Greek to me..............

I purchased from the municipal kiosk on Sept 25 2012 for R350 and got 402.9 Kwh = 87c/Kwh ( First purchase for the month )
Directly after that on the same day I purchased R 40 as a check and got 36.6 Kwh = R1.09 / Kwh.

On Oct 3 I purchased again R 350 and got 379.1 Kwh = 92 c/Kwh ( Again first purchase for the month )

So this does not make any sense !

Martinco, all municipalities are charging in a similar fashion but the rates may differ.
I suggest that you consult with your municipality, or even better visit them on-line and download the schedule of rates for electricity tariffs.
I am sure that you are not getting done in but you need to understand that prepaid electricity is the most expensive form of electricity that we have in South Africa

[Justloadit]

I have two meters, on the same floor, when I purchase simultaneously for the same amount for each, on the one I pay R1.16 Kw and had a R8 receipt taken off my total payment, and on the other I pay 93.5c a KW straight. You tell me. I do not want to complain, in case they put up the other meter to R1.16 as well.