Municipal & Utilities
How to Register for Prepaid Electricity at Your Municipality
When you move into a new home or convert from a conventional to a prepaid meter, the meter must be registered against your name and address before you can buy tokens.
Who needs this
New homeowners, tenants moving in, or households switching from a conventional meter to prepaid.
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What you need before you start
- Copy of your ID
- Proof of residence (lease, sale agreement, or affidavit)
- The meter number (usually printed on the meter itself)
- Recent municipal account (for existing accounts)
Step-by-step process
- 1Read the meter number
The 11-digit meter number is printed on the front of the prepaid meter unit.
- 2Register at the municipality or Eskom
Go to your local municipal customer care centre (or Eskom Direct if Eskom supplies you) with your ID, meter number and proof of residence.
- 3Buy your first token
Once registered, tokens can be bought at supermarkets, ATMs, banking apps, and dedicated vendors. Enter the 20-digit token into the meter to top up.
Where, how much, how long
Where to submit
Your local municipality or Eskom Direct customer care centre.
Fees
Registration is normally free. TODO: confirm at your metro.
Processing time
Usually same day.
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Common rejection reasons
- Wrong or transposed meter number
- Outstanding debt on the previous account
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Official sources
Always confirm the latest requirements and fees on the official website before submitting.