Eskom refuse to replace transformer - Please help

[RonSwanson]

Yes, it seem that a lot of prepaid meters are offline units so there is no way to fix them remotely with OTA updates.

Prepaid meters, or credit dispensing units? I was referring to the latter.

 

[Sinbad]

Prepaid meters, or credit dispensing units? I was referring to the latter.

Well you can't rotate keys on the dispensers unless the decoding units (prepaid meters) also get the new decryption/verification key?

 

[RonSwanson]

Well you can't rotate keys on the dispensers unless the decoding units (prepaid meters) also get the new decryption/verification key?

It would depend on the keyset and how it was engineered.

 

[ld13]

Do they operate offline? Keys stored on the unit itself?

I would assume as much. I also assume they were designed this way, lets say 8+ years ago, when connectivity to a central database was problematic, to say the least, hence the possible semi-offline nature of these units.

Although, it would be seemingly impossible to impose a stepped/tiered pricing structure for electricity if these units operated 100% offline, no?

 

[isie]

I would assume as much. I also assume they were designed this way, lets say 8+ years ago, when connectivity to a central database was problematic, to say the least, hence the possible semi-offline nature of these units.

Although, it would be seemingly impossible to impose a stepped/tiered pricing structure for electricity if these units operated 100% offline, no?

The stepped tiered is worked on what you purchase in one calendar month not your use (and this works out very well for me).

So when you buy you enter your meter number it queries the DB and works out how much you bought already in the calendar month and dispenses a token based on what you purchase (eskom direct 0-600Kw is the first Tier and 600Kwh is the second) - you punch that token on your meter and it ups your total by whatever the amount of Kwh the token has, ,there seems to be no actual link between the physical meter and the central DB (hence theses guys probably got the encryption key for the token generation and that is why these fake ones work on the physical meter)

 

[ld13]

The stepped tiered is worked on what you purchase in one calendar month not your use (and this works out very well for me).

Yep, abused this system when I was in the holiday renting space for our tenants. Would buy small amounts every month that covered the usage for the busy December/January.

So when you buy you enter your meter number it queries the DB ...

That I get, but I was more pondering on how the dispensing unit could work offline if it had to query the database to find out if the user had bought <600< units in the past calendar month.

Another possibility is that these units are asynchronous and simply keeps a local tally of the purchases that then gets packaged and updated to the main DB then and again.

 

[isie]

Yep, abused this system when I was in the holiday renting space for our tenants. Would buy small amounts every month that covered the usage for the busy December/January.



That I get, but I was more pondering on how the dispensing unit could work offline if it had to query the database to find out if the user had bought <600< units in the past calendar month.

Another possibility is that these units are asynchronous and simply keeps a local tally of the purchases that then gets packaged and updated to the main DB then and again.

Legal or illegal dispensing units?

considering times when eskom prepaid system goes offline - legal vendors cannot sell at all.
I doubt there is any offline component to that.
the meters themselves are 'offline' and do not query anything it just validates the token and that I think is the flaw in the system - and not sure why this loop hole remains - they can read the meter remotely (the same unit is used for prepaid and postpaid)
logically as soon as I buy the token the shop or online etc - i should not have to still go load it at home.

 

[thehuman]

Good day,

I need help please. The transformer in my area/block has decided not to work anymore. Burned out. Not exploded, eskom disconnected the transformer. I'm sure it was an aging issue with this transformer. Eskom said they must first do an Audit on our block and that is what they did. We even took days off from work to assist eskom in this process. Out of 42 houses they found about 28 houses that are buying electricity illegally from back door vendors. These houses received fines and must sign off on these fines to admit guilt and must pay. But some refuse to sign these documents and eskom is saying they will not change the transformer untill everybody has signed the forms. But the purchase of illegal electricity is an eskom system problem. These Back door vendors has find a way to bypass eskom's system for people to buy electricity for cheap from them. Why not replacing the transformer then cut off the people that is at fault. It's been 2 weeks now without any electricity. Adults can still survive but the children are suffering allot because of this. Please remember that it is not about illegal connections. Its about the purchasing of illegal electricity from these back door vendors, an eskom system problem.

Anybody here that could supply me with an senior eskom staff member's email address to escalate this. Or can I ask Mybroadband to assist me to contact Eskom. Any help will be much appreciated.

Any update to this?

 

[ld13]

Legal or illegal dispensing units?

Both? I am trying to work out how it all pieces together. As one cannot e.g. simply go and steal a SterKinekor terminal and print tickets as the unit relies on a back-end server etc. so not worth stealing it. So the eskom units (non-stolen for now), would only be worth stealing if it had some sort of an offline or independent functionality.

 

[stede]

Thanks for

Any update to this?

Yes, Eskom has decided to replace the transformer. Suppose to be today but has been postponed for tomorrow to replace the transformer. I'm not sure if they will deal with the culprits that's buying tokens from Ghost vendors. If not, then Eskom is at fault for not taken these p@%ses to task. They must get disconnected because its going to be a continues problem with transformers giving problems. We as the public are not responsible to do Eskom's work to disconnect these guys. Eskom must stop sleeping and do their work. At this very moment they are at Diepsloot disconnecting allot of illegal connections.

Thank you all for the positive support.

 

[thehuman]

Thanks for

Yes, Eskom has decided to replace the transformer. Suppose to be today but has been postponed for tomorrow to replace the transformer. I'm not sure if they will deal with the culprits that's buying tokens from Ghost vendors. If not, then Eskom is at fault for not taken these p@%ses to task. They must get disconnected because its going to be a continues problem with transformers giving problems. We as the public are not responsible to do Eskom's work to disconnect these guys. Eskom must stop sleeping and do their work. At this very moment they are at Diepsloot disconnecting allot of illegal connections.

Thank you all for the positive support.

Would be interesting how they buy these tokens, if eskom can find this ghost vendor would be great.
Won't be possible if vendor is online tho.

 

[stede]

Just to add, 3 days into the blackout, I bought a Generator but its very expensive to run this thing. We can not connect the Geezer and the Washing machine. To much power for the Gene to handle.

 

[stede]

Would be interesting how they buy these tokens, if eskom can find this ghost vendor would be great.
Won't be possible if vendor is online tho.

Yes, Would be interesting. I'm sure its Ex-Eskom employees that's selling these tokens.

Its even current and Ex-Eskom employees that's is doing all these illegal connections.

 

[geezer]

We can not connect the Geezer and the Washing machine. To much power for the Gene to handle.

That's why I had these strange tingling feelings down my back........

 

[Magnum]

This thread giving me some ideas. Can you brute force attack the key to produce the meternumber and amount to be loaded? Im sure there some Bitcoin miners that can be put to good use.

 

[TheChamp]

Good to hear, but now know that Eskom has got your number, it's better to slowly invest in solar, you guys are not out of the woods.

 

[isie]

Both? I am trying to work out how it all pieces together. As one cannot e.g. simply go and steal a SterKinekor terminal and print tickets as the unit relies on a back-end server etc. so not worth stealing it. So the eskom units (non-stolen for now), would only be worth stealing if it had some sort of an offline or independent functionality.

Im guessing ex employees or current bribed employees get a hold of the generation key machine.
These have the ability to give you tokens that do not register as a purchase (and i mean for legitimate reason) so doesn't affect your tiered purchase - they changed my buddies meter and they gave him a token for about 1000 Kwh , as that was left on his old meter (after he fought with them mind you) it didn't affect his current months purchase as it didn't push him to the next tier.

 

[Illegal Allien]

When I tried logging a call for a power outage in my area, the call centre agent had to first confirm I am a paying customer, only then did he take details and the like. He says if he had seen a discrepancy on my account my call would be a non priority one. So I guess Eskom is really trying to get everyone to pay, but really sucks when you are innocent.

 

[TheChamp]

When I tried logging a call for a power outage in my area, the call centre agent had to first confirm I am a paying customer, only then did he take details and the like. He says if he had seen a discrepancy on my account my call would be a non priority one. So I guess Eskom is really trying to get everyone to pay, but really sucks when you are innocent.

Happened to me as well.

 

[isie]

When I tried logging a call for a power outage in my area, the call centre agent had to first confirm I am a paying customer, only then did he take details and the like. He says if he had seen a discrepancy on my account my call would be a non priority one. So I guess Eskom is really trying to get everyone to pay, but really sucks when you are innocent.

Happened to me as well.

Interesting I guess they have to start somewhere