Prepaid Electricity

[VG008]

Hi Guys

What is the cost to convert to prepaid elec. Previously I was told it costs around R3k once off.

Thanks!

 

[biometrics]

If you have post paid, keep it if you can. Pre paid is a hassle.

 

[VG008]

If you have post paid, keep it if you can. Pre paid is a hassle.

How so?

The main reason I want to switch is because of the inaccuracy of the bill.
One month it is 2.5K, then next it is 4K - can't continue with such surprises.

 

[biometrics]

Ok I see you're in Joburg. In the Cape it's accurate be it pre or post.

Post is by debit order with the rest of the municipal bill. Pre you have to remember once a month, do it online and enter the number into the box - too much hassle.

 

[VG008]

Well, once a month I still go online to pay the bill - no debit order for us (not that I'll go for that option).

I do agree, it is a pain to top up but what other options do I have?

 

[Sinbad]

If you have post paid, keep it if you can. Pre paid is a hassle.

In Joburg, the standing charges on postpaid make it insanely expensive, especially if you don't use a lot. In summer, I pay R1.50 per kwh on postpaid, prepaid is closer to R1

I am switching.

 

[upup]

prepaid is more expensive per unit.

some private companies make a deal and install it for free, but get money back with their more expensive price

 

[atomcrusher]

prepaid is more expensive per unit.

Yes, pre-paid is more expensive, and I can't understand that. The elec supplier, e.g. City of Joburg has no risk of bad debts with pre-paid.

 

[Fudzy]

Yes, pre-paid is more expensive, and I can't understand that. The elec supplier, e.g. City of Joburg has no risk of bad debts with pre-paid.

That's why it's so well adopted, cash up front. The mobile service providers caught on a lot earlier.

 

[Sinbad]

Yes, pre-paid is more expensive, and I can't understand that. The elec supplier, e.g. City of Joburg has no risk of bad debts with pre-paid.

Do you guys have reading issues? COJ prepaid is cheaper overall than postpaid if you use less than 2000kwh per month.

 

[RichardG]

City of Joburg is encouraging people to convert to prepaid there is a pilot project running again whereby they will convert your meter for free but the waiting period is a killer and you need to contact them on a regular basis when I went to City Powes they've arrogant staff,rude, they insist to actually pay and many people have paid already for prepaid meters and are still waiting for their prepaid conversion.

I am also experiencing the same issue with my electricity account. First time ever I received a bill account of R924 must have been snowing at CoJ or something.


Remember on postpaid meters you pay luxury tax. Meter rental+meter reading fee. you can save easy about R300-400 month, have a three-phase meter. If I convert I will definitely save R400 but to install the meter swill set me back anything from R8 - R15 k but they do want to upgrade everyone meter to smart meters that way accurate meter reading happens in real-time.

 

[HavocXphere]

City of Joburg is encouraging people to convert to prepaid there is a pilot project running again whereby they will convert your meter for free but the waiting period is a killer and you need to contact them on a regular basis when I went to City Powes they've arrogant staff,rude, they insist to actually pay and many people have paid already for prepaid meters and are still waiting for their prepaid conversion.

I am also experiencing the same issue with my electricity account. First time ever I received a bill account of R924 must have been snowing at CoJ or something.


Remember on postpaid meters you pay luxury tax. Meter rental+meter reading fee. you can save easy about R300-400 month, have a three-phase meter. If I convert I will definitely save R400 but to install the meter swill set me back anything from R8 - R15 k but they do want to upgrade everyone meter to smart meters that way accurate meter reading happens in real-time.

eh? Must be a CoJ thing. I def don't have a meter rental on mine (PTA). Hell last month I got a (wrong) bill for like 30 bucks for usage. Next one is going to be a grand though I think.

 

[Sinbad]

eh? Must be a CoJ thing. I def don't have a meter rental on mine (PTA). Hell last month I got a (wrong) bill for like 30 bucks for usage. Next one is going to be a grand though I think.

It's not meter rental. It's service charge, network charge and demand side management levy.
On my bill it's R416 per month. You don't pay that with prepaid.

 

[atomcrusher]

Do you guys have reading issues? COJ prepaid is cheaper overall than postpaid if you use less than 2000kwh per month.

I can see why my post confused you .. I live in the WC, and I should have used my own dorp as an example ... and here post-paid is cheaper than pre-paid, in spite of the local elec supplier ( in our case the municipality) having zero financial risk i.r.o. pre-paid customers vs. the risk they have with post-paid i.r.o. the possibility of late- or non-payment by post-paid customers

 

[HavocXphere]

It's not meter rental. It's service charge, network charge and demand side management levy.
On my bill it's R416 per month. You don't pay that with prepaid.

I don't get anything like that on my postpaid. Its literally just the units used.

 

[chrisc]

Pre-paid and post-paid costs exactly the same, at least in Cape Town

The cost is you have to purchase a pre-paid meter (single phase R 1600, 3 phase a bit more, maybe R 2000) and have it installed by a licensed electrician (R 800) and have it inspected and sealed by Council's electricity dept (R 220 fee)

You can buy vouchers from most shops and also on-line if you are running out at night and do not want to go out

 

[noxibox]

Buying online is also completely painless in Cape Town.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

Postpaid was a pain for me, I way prefer prepaid where I only pay for what I actually use.
It was always a thumbsuck on postpaid as to what they were going to charge me that month.

 

[RichardG]

eh? Must be a CoJ thing. I def don't have a meter rental on mine (PTA). Hell last month I got a (wrong) bill for like 30 bucks for usage. Next one is going to be a grand though I think.

It's not meter rental. It's service charge, network charge and demand side management levy.
On my bill it's R416 per month. You don't pay that with prepaid.

I don't get anything like that on my postpaid. Its literally just the units used.

Network charge(Rental meters) & service charge(meter reading folks) if not mistaken did read it somewhere on prepaid you actually don't pay service charge nor network charge and I did ask the Councillors and they assured me that those fees aren't applicable.

I actually checked my latest CoJ utility bill and the charge is roughly R416 without any electricity consumption I would rather convert to prepaid and rather spend that R420 on electricity than paying luxury tax.

Also in PTA/other municipalities if you want to convert to prepaid it's cheaper like in pta you can pay R1000-1500(sometimes they have promotions), same thing in Kempton park, but here in Johannesburg if you want to convert to prepaid they can charge you anything between R3000 - R20 K or more which is ridiculous.

Eskom do want people on prepaid! I am sick and tired of CoJ charging me what they want, come month end my utility bill is the same bare in mind I cook with gas(bottle), geyser off, fridge on 24/7, laptop on 24/7, television off completely not even on standby, doesn't actually make a difference(I always say that each household already is allocated a fixed price what they have to contribute every month) and people who stay in Soweto I have seen them pay R400 per month, they cook with a stove, electricity running 24/7, television, dstv etc.


Here are the tariff charges (not sure if it has been updated) but it can give you rough idea how much they charge per unit. http://prepaid24.co.za/tariffs-and-charges_faq_op_list_category_29 (I don't care getting charged an extra 50 cent on prepaid to scrap service/network charges etc) that money can be contributed towards prepaid units.

 

[Dolby]

It's not meter rental. It's service charge, network charge and demand side management levy.
On my bill it's R416 per month. You don't pay that with prepaid.

Network charge(Rental meters) & service charge(meter reading folks) if not mistaken did read it somewhere on prepaid you actually don't pay service charge nor network charge and I did ask the Councillors and they assured me that those fees aren't applicable.

Those are also the fees I want to get rid of - but want to know 100% for sure.

Have you guys converted yourself?