Sol Plaatje rolls out smart prepaid electricity meters for Kimberley businesses

THE SOL Plaatje Municipality has begun installing more than 2,500 smart prepaid electricity meters at businesses across Kimberley as part of a R35 million infrastructure modernisation drive.

The roll-out, which targets 2,532 business premises only, follows an announcement made by the municipality in October and is already under way, with installation teams deployed across the city.

Municipal spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said the project forms part of a broader national initiative linked to an existing service level agreement between National Treasury and telecommunications company Vodacom. The agreement initially enabled the installation of 15,000 single-phase smart prepaid meters at households.

This phase is an extension of that programme and is funded as an indirect grant through a transaction between National Treasury and Vodacom, Mothibi explained.

According to the municipality, businesses should expect official installation teams who are clearly identifiable. Installers are required to wear visible municipal protective clothing and carry official identification, including ID tags and documentation undersigned by the municipal chief financial officer.

Businesses with questions or concerns about the roll-out can contact the municipality on 078 513 3510 or via the call centre on 080 122 9010.

Mothibi said the municipality is confident the project will strengthen Kimberley’s electricity infrastructure and improve the efficiency of the local metering system.

“We trust that our efforts in modernising our electrical infrastructure and metering system will meet endorsement,” he said.