Prepaid meter eating units (Wh) without using it

thehuman said:
Does usage stop when you switch of main isolator to house ?
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That's the next test I need to do. So far I've just dropped the switches for any major appliances.
 
Dooks111 said:
Yes. Basically we are now forced to pay to run the municipalities meters over and above what they are smoking us for with the prepaid rates as well.

I know I know ... it is minuscule - but still. Lose-lose for the consumer
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Not only that, but if you leave it long enough. You'll owe CoT without knowing and through that scheme they nail you interest...

They removed my meter then forced one onto me so I have one of the new versions. So I have a breaker for CoT main and or generator so I flip that switch and I get 0 from CoT not noticed points missing but yet again not really bothered by it cause my municipality account has no provision for power.
 
if you switch the mains off just unplug the meter as well.
 
SHL said:
How do you unplug the meter? At the box outside?
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You can't, it's only the utility that can do that.

Is this a new or recent problem? Is the meter recently installed? I can't imagine you could have missing that amount of electricity going off every day.
 
SHL said:
How do you unplug the meter? At the box outside?
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Power is one of those things you don't play with when it comes to the municipal connection. It is normally not maintained and badly installed so chances that you will toast something is really high. Most electricians do have access or can schedule a check. If there is nothing wrong it is a win. If see a magic wire branching out to someone else you got your answer.

Inside your home, you should be able to tell if the house draws power. Trip your mains and use a multimeter to see if the plugs are alive or not. That will tell you where the problem is.

Just remember to use some rubber gloves just for the sake of not tempting Thor to speed test your heart. Electricity is a ****up will kill you if given a chance so if you feel it is beyond your knowledge find out from family who has a family friend that is a Electrician. :thumbsup: :ROFL: Normally they work for free or Beer :laugh:
 
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There are 7,000, 000 prepaid customers in South Africa, each meter uses R7pm

Eskom make R49,000,000 per month just for the joy of people having those meters.

Eish...kom
 
TheChamp said:
You can't, it's only the utility that can do that.

Is this a new or recent problem? Is the meter recently installed? I can't imagine you could have missing that amount of electricity going off every day.
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Meter was installed Dec'24. Up until recently, 600 units was enough to get through the month but now, that amount is being used up within 2 weeks.
 
SHL said:
Meter was installed Dec'24. Up until recently, 600 units was enough to get through the month but now, that amount is being used up within 2 weeks.
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Okay, you will need to do your homework properly because the utility could make you look like you are imagining things.

My former colleague once had a neighbour connect on his line at the box outside, so it is possible that you could have such an issue.

Maybe get an electrician first, it should be easy for a skilled person to figure out what's happening.
 
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Also get a secondary power meter installed after prepaid meter , would help alot to proof faulty meter
 
thehuman said:
Also get a secondary power meter installed after prepaid meter , would help alot to proof faulty meter
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If it won't interfere with the comms of the main meter. I have a simple plug in meter that I use to get the consumption for appliances, the UI cannot communicate with the meter if it's plugged in.
 
SHL said:
That's the next test I need to do. So far I've just dropped the switches for any major appliances.
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Can’t really consider it a problem until you do.

If it stops with the mains off your meter is just fine and the problem is on your side.
 
thehuman said:
Does usage stop when you switch of main isolator to house ?
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SauRoNZA said:
Can’t really consider it a problem until you do.

If it stops with the mains off your meter is just fine and the problem is on your side.
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Did some further testing by dropping main switch and the units stop running so that means the issue is on my side. I do notice that there's one bar permanently on when viewing the meter even though no major appliances are switched on. Can anyone who has the Conlog meter confirm if this is normal?

1747641795286.png
 
SHL said:
Did some further testing by dropping main switch and the units stop running so that means the issue is on my side. I do notice that there's one bar permanently on when viewing the meter even though no major appliances are switched on. Can anyone who has the Conlog meter confirm if this is normal?

View attachment 1821377
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That's probably the signal strength, assuming you are referring to left side of the display.

I was wrong, each segment represents 10% of the max configured load. I assume it just shows one bar if there is any load.
 
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SHL said:
Did some further testing by dropping main switch and the units stop running so that means the issue is on my side. I do notice that there's one bar permanently on when viewing the meter even though no major appliances are switched on. Can anyone who has the Conlog meter confirm if this is normal?

View attachment 1821377
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Look up the short codes for the meter and see if there is one to display current which will tell you if electricity is being used.
 
Ϲhristopher said:
That's probably the signal strength, assuming you are referring to left side of the display.

I was wrong, each segment represents 10% of the max configured load. I assume it just shows one bar if there is any load.
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Depending on how it's configured that one bar could even be on for the UI self consumption even when nothing is plugged on.
 
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