Electricity Audit

Pictured is the Electricity Meter Audit Team from Ontec who will be visiting your home if they have not yet paid a visit to your residence. 

ELECTRICITY METER AUDIT 

Following enquiries from the public on the Electricity Audit that was published on 9 and 25 March 2022 we would like to elaborate on the purpose of the audit and reiterate the importance of the public cooperating with the meter auditors. 

The primary purpose of the audit is that the encryption key in all STS (“Standard Transfer Specification") prepaid electricity meters used in Cape Agulhas will expire in November 2024, and consumers using these meters will no longer be able to buy electricity. The Municipality's prepaid electricity meter auditors will be ensuring that consumers' prepaid meters are working effectively and ensure that all STS meters' key revision numbers are changed to the required 2-part reset key before the November 2024 deadline for the Token Identifier (TID) roll-over programme to ensure that consumers using STS meters will still be able to purchase electricity.  This TID rollover is a world-wide problem.  

The audit is also an opportunity to address other aspects relating to the management of electricity meters, including the verification of the number of meters in our municipal area, verification of the particulars of the account holder so that we can cleanse the data on our financial system.  

Rising electricity costs and increasing losses mean that we also need to identify meter tampering and implement the necessary corrective measures and this audit is the perfect opportunity to do this. 

Meters will all be fitted with new seals, which are recorded on the database, and the GPS locations determined providing the Municipality with accurate locations. The current vending tender expires end September this year and the audited results will provide accurate tender specifications and avoid hidden costs, the location of the prepaid meters will enable the correct number of third-party vendors to be located in the areas where they are needed most.   

This necessitates the audit of both pre-paid and conventional electricity meters. The commission of a single audit to fulfil all these purposes will ultimately result in a cost saving and ultimately a reduction in electricity losses.

This meter audit was advertised on a public tender by the Municipality and was open to any meter auditing company with the requisite skills, equipment, and CIDB grading. ONTEC was the successful bidder and are contracted by the Municipality, to undertake the prepaid electricity meter audit on the Municipality's behalf. It is common practice with such audits that auditors from outside town are used as they are more independent. This avoids the problems associated with friends and family members auditing meters and not reporting possible tampering. Auditors from out of town are also not as easily influenced by family and friends and are also not victimised or targeted for violence later.

The audit commenced on 10 March 2022 and will continue until 30 June 2022. Auditors will always have an identity card with a photograph and logo of the Municipality. Any misconduct, concerns or enquiries can be directed to Ms. Esmaré Coetzee at 028 425 5500 / 0825375505 or EsmareC@capeagulhas.gov.za

The meter auditors started their inspections on Thursday, 10 March 2022, and will continue until 30 June 2022.

We would also like to remind the public to please ensure that any tokens purchased prior to the audit are loaded as they will not be able to loaded after your meter has been audited. 

The Cape Agulhas Electricity By-Law allows us the right to access our meters even when located within a residence, and we kindly request the public to provide the requisite access and information requested so that we can ensured enhanced and continuous service.