Eskom launches incentive for smart meter customers

Limiting your usage can get you an incentive!

With a fully enabled smart meter you can apply for Eskom’s residential load limiting incentive.

This means that you can get paid R90 per month if you allow Eskom to reduce the supply to your home during a load limiting incident. A load limiting incident is when Eskom’s system is constrained, and customers who are participating, are asked to switch off their high consuming appliances. This action results in less power being drawn from the Eskom system, and in turn helps Eskom to balance the electricity supply system. And if you are willing to use less when Eskom needs it, Eskom will reward you! Sign up here! Alfred WhatsApp 08600 37566

Why should you apply for the incentive

Eskom would like to ensure its systems and networks are well managed and avoid loadshedding during peak demand times. If you and other  households participate in the incentive programme, you will  curb your usage during times of system constraint, and Eskom will reward you.

Here 's what you need to know about the incentive

Step 1

Have a fully enabled smart meter (Project team will fill in details here)

Step 2

Be fully paid up Eskom customer

Step 3

Sign up for participation here (Project team to advise where customer sign up)

FAQ

What is the Demand Response incentive for residences project?

The Demand Response for residences is an effort by Eskom to reduce peak demand electricity usage by offering smart meter customers an incentive to allow their households usage to be curtailed. Read more about the benefits and rewards of this programme here www.eskom.co.za/distribution/SmartMetersIncentive.

 

Once the customer has signed to participate the following will happen:

  • On the day where the power system is constrained, Eskom will notify the customer that they will be load limited at a specific time during evening and morning peaks – DR/load limiting event.
  • The customer will be requested to switch-off their high consuming appliances before the DR event (e.g., Geysers Stoves etc.) 
  • Eskom will then load limit the customer for the period of 2 hours, each triggered DR event will not be more than 2 hours per event and not more 2 events per day.
  • During the DR event the customer will still use their limited appliances – Refer to the load limiting marketing information for the list of appliances.
  • After the 2 hours Eskom will restore electricity to full capacity and the customer will be notified

Any Eskom customer who has a fully enabled smart meter installed, can apply for this incentive programme.

Eskom would like to ensure its systems and networks are well managed and avoid loadshedding during peak demand times. In requesting households to curb their usage during times of system constraint and near shortage, customers are thus offered a monetary incentive.

You have the chance to apply and be granted participation in Eskom’ incentive programme for residential customers. Should you comply with the programme terms, Eskom is offering you an incentive of R90 per month if you agree to let Eskom limit your power supply, up to 10 times a month. The incentive will be paid to you as a credit or as your next token.

As a prepaid customer you will be given an electricity token to the value of R90 the next time you go and buy electricity once within a month timeframe. As a post-paid customer, we will process a credit of R90 onto your account in a monthly cycle.

The incentive is paid once a month.

The incentive can only be offered to customers who have fully enabled smart meters and are willing to partake in the program.

Eskom will notify participating customers via SMS prior to the event. You will be incentivised irrespective of the demand reduced by you.

You can read more about this programme at www.eskom.co.za/distribution/SmartMetersIncentive. If you have a fully enabled smart meter, you may receive and SMS with more information. You may also be able to get more information by going to Alfred chatbot at https://alfred.eskom.co.za/chatroom/

 

This incentive program is not connected to load shedding, but it offers a monetary incentive if customers agree to have their electricity supply limited during peak high demand periods when Eskom is constrained.

Eskom’s small and large power customers directly supplied by Eskom who have fully enabled smart meters.

Post-paid customers will be credited with R90 on their bill.

A credit token to the value of R90 will be issued to you the next time you go to buy tokens.

The conditions are:

  • The customer must have a fully working smart meter
  • The customer must have a reliable mobile phone

Information on the Demand Response product will be available on the Eskom website link www.eskom.co.za/distribution/SmartMetersIncentive.

Eskom Smart Meter Rollout

Eskom currently has 600 000 customers using smart meters. From 2025 to 2027 the rest of the customers will get smart meters.

A smart meter is an electricity meter with a type of technology that allows customers to see consumption, enables consumers to budget their energy cost, and allows Eskom to remotely monitor and adjust the electricity supply, based on the needs of the utility at the time.  Eskom will communicate the smart meter programme through a comprehensive education campaign to customers. Look out for more information on radio,  leaflets and on Eskom social media such as Facebook, Eskom X posts, Eskom You Tube channel videos, community forums and Connect customer communiques. Eskom customers are encouraged to follow Eskom social media platforms to stay updated:

Twitter: @Eskom_SA  
Facebook: @EskomSouthAfrica 
Instagram: @eskom_holdings 

Benefits for customers and Eskom

The benefits of  smart meters for our customers:

  1. Real-Time usage tracking:
    • Allows you to monitor your electricity consumption in real time, often via a smartphone app or web portal.
    • Encourages energy-saving behaviour by showing which appliances use the most electricity.
  2. Accurate billing:
    • Eliminates estimated bills by providing exact usage data.
    • Helps avoid overcharges or undercharges.
  3. Faster problem detection:
    • Alerts for unusual usage patterns can indicate faulty appliances or energy waste.
  4. Time-of-Use Pricing:
    • Enables users to shift usage to off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper, potentially lowering bills.
  5. No need for manual meter readings:
    • Automatically sends readings to Eskom, saving time and hassle.

The benefits of smart meters for Eskom:

  1. Improved load management:
    • Helps manage demand more efficiently and avoid loadshedding during peak times.
  2. Remote monitoring and troubleshooting:
    • Enables quick detection of outages and faults in the grid.
  3. Reduced operational costs:
    • Reduces Eskom’s costs as no need for meter reading contracts  and service calls.
  4. Better forecasting and planning:
    • Detailed usage data supports better infrastructure planning and energy distribution.

Caution!

Customers are cautioned to only allow identifiable, confirmed contractors into their home to install their smart meter.

  • Always make sure you have seen a smart meter roll out message in the media.
  • Check that your area is currently having the roll out.
  • Make sure that you check the authentic identification of anyone posing as an installer and wanting to enter your home. [Project team to advise who will do the actual installations, if contractors, we will need to produce Eskom programme branded bibs for them to wear to assure customers they are legitimate installers].  

FAQ

When will Eskom start rolling out fully enabled smart meters?

Eskom currently has 600 000 customers using smart meters. From 2025 to 2027 the rest of the customers will get smart meters.

Eskom currently has 600 000 customers using smart meters. From 2025 to 2027 the rest of the customers will get smart meters.

A smart meter is an electricity meter with a type of technology that allows customers to see consumption, enables consumers to budget their energy cost, and allows Eskom to remotely monitor and adjust the electricity supply, based on the needs of the utility at the time.  

Once you have indicated interest to participate, using the meter details, Eskom will verify on its system and provide confirmation on whether the smart meter is fully enabled for this initiative. Call 08600 37655 and speak to an agent.

Eskom customers do not have the choice as to what technology is used to deliver their electricity to their homes. Eskom will be rolling out fully enabled smart meters to all its customers, and all old meters will become redundant and be removed.

Eskom will communicate the smart meter programme through a comprehensive education campaign to customers. Eskom will use one or all of the following to reach customers:

regional radio, media releases, radio interviews, leaflets, Facebook and Eskom X posts, Eskom You Tube channel videos, community forums and Connect customer communiques.

Eskom customers are encouraged to follow Eskom social media platforms to stay updated:

Twitter: @Eskom_SA  https://twitter.com/Eskom_SA

Facebook: @EskomSouthAfrica https://www.facebook.com/EskomSouthAfrica

Instagram: @eskom_holdings https://instagram.com/eskom_holdings?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

  1. Eskom chatbot Alfred will provide updated information as it becomes available. https://alfred.eskom.co.za/chatroom/

Eskom customers are advised to contact their local Eskom office and provide your latest contact details for the Eskom database. This ensures you don’t miss valuable information with regard to visits to your home for this roll out.

The replacing of old type meters with fully enabled smart meters is an Eskom only project.

Project team please answer how it will work.

Credit in the meter at the time of replacement will be unaffected.

Should you which to sign-up for the incentive.

Contact us via WhatsApp 08600 37 566