Don't get left in the dark

Article published on 23 July 2013

Since the first instances of load shedding in 2009 when the country was hit very hard by hours of darkness, the threat of load shedding rears its head every winter. Fortunately getting left in the dark for a few hours at a time has not been as prevalent as feared.

“Don't get left in the dark” the new tagline by which the City of Johannesburg is trying to encourage it's residents to install a pre-paid electricity meter. This will by no means give you immunity against load shedding but you will certainly be aware of the cost of turning on a light and of running an unwatched tv, as the meter will be somewhere visible, allowing you the dubious privilege of seeing your hard earned cash disappear.
Maybe the city council think that if people see their money dwindling they will work harder at saving it and as a result electricity consumption will decrease.

What may seem like heavy handed tactics to some, the threat of being left in the dark is quite possibly a last ditch attempt to gain access to a property for meter readings or run the risk of being disconnected. A way out is being offered by the encouragement to install a pre-paid electricity meter.

Still smarting after being stripped of “the world class city” description the Johannesburg City Council are undoubtedly looking for ways to streamline their service, thereby appearing to justify these apparently heavy handed tactics.

So while having a pre-paid meter does not indemnify you against load shedding it does put you in control of your wallet.