Tampering with prepaid electricity meters is on the rise across South African metros, particularly in the City of Cape Town, according to a report by TimesLive. Xanthea Limberg, the city’s mayoral committee member for energy, confirmed the increase, linking it to last week’s significant court ruling against Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes for 2024.
The ruling, which dismissed the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (NERSA) appeal, deemed the 12.8% municipal tariff increase implemented in July illegal, as reported by The South African. Civil rights organization AfriForum stated that millions of electricity users could now be entitled to refunds. However, the decision poses financial challenges for already struggling local municipalities.
In light of these developments, the growing issue of prepaid electricity meter tampering and illegal connections has emerged as a serious concern. With residents grappling with the financial burden of Eskom’s steep tariff increases, many have been forced to apply for indigent benefits to afford basic electricity. In the Western Cape, approximately 30% of residents qualify for free basic electricity.
Meter tampering, however, jeopardizes the broader electricity grid. The City of Cape Town recently revealed that nearly 12,000 meters had been tampered with, predominantly in low-income areas like Lavender Hill, where protests against high energy costs have intensified. Limberg pointed to the unaffordable and unjustifiable tariff hikes as the primary driver behind the surge in tampering incidents.
“The city has observed a notable increase in prepaid electricity meter tampering cases,” Limberg stated. “It is our view that this is driven by the unaffordable and unconscionable electricity tariff hikes proposed by Eskom and approved by NERSA.”
The rise in meter tampering underscores the broader economic strain felt by residents and the ongoing challenges faced by South Africa’s energy sector.
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