Discover everything about prepaid electricity meters in South Africa in 2025! Learn how they work, benefits, installation costs & more.
As South Africans continue to navigate rising electricity costs, load shedding, and tighter household budgets, prepaid electricity meters are becoming the smart choice for many households and property owners.
If you’re thinking about making the switch in 2025, this guide has everything you need to know, whether you’re a homeowner, landlord, or tenant.
At JKNV Energy, we’ve helped thousands of South Africans take control of their electricity usage. Let’s explore why prepaid electricity meters are in demand and how they can benefit you.
What is a Prepaid Electricity Meter?
A prepaid electricity meter allows you to buy electricity in advance, much like a pay-as-you-go mobile phone. You load credit onto your meter and use electricity until the credit runs out. Once it does, you’ll need to top up to continue using power.
There are two main types of prepaid electricity meters:
- Traditional prepaid meters, where you manually enter a voucher code or token
- Smart prepaid meters, which offer online top-ups, real-time usage tracking, and remote management
Why Prepaid Electricity Meters in South Africa are in Demand in 2025
Prepaid electricity meters aren’t new, but their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Here’s why 2025 is seeing a surge in adoption across South Africa:
Rising Electricity Tariffs
Eskom and municipal tariff hikes are forcing households to budget more carefully for electricity and water. Prepaid meters give you better control so you can manage how much you spend. In the case of sub-metering, prepaid metering is even more useful, as the tenant purchases electricity or water in advance of use; there can be no claim of no funds at month’s end when a bill is presented for utilities used.
Giving the double convenience of secure revenue collection for utilities combined with reduced admin. In addition to the convenience, there is also a cost-saving. Each month, a statement is sent to the owner, landlord, body corporate, real estate agent or property manager showing the total purchases made for the month for each prepaid meter registered on our system.
Load Shedding & Energy Uncertainty
Load-shedding schedules remain unpredictable. Prepaid meters allow users to track consumption and ensure they have enough credit to get through blackouts without stress.
Increased Demand for Transparent Billing
No more bill surprises! Prepaid meters ensure you pay only for what you use, when you use it. Many municipalities are encouraging new housing developments and rental properties to adopt prepaid systems.
Quick Fact: Many South African property developers are now choosing prepaid electricity as the standard in new residential and commercial complexes.
Key Benefits of Prepaid Electricity Meters
For Homeowners
✅ Track and manage your energy costs in real time
✅ No end-of-month bill shock
✅ Easy top-ups via mobile apps, retail stores, or online banking
For Landlords & Property Managers
✅ No unpaid utility bills from tenants
✅ Tenants are responsible for their own electricity usage
✅ Simplifies tenant management in multi-unit properties
✅ Reduced cost and admin in reading meters, calculating costs and sending additional invoices
For Tenants
✅ Only pay for what you use
✅ Budget your energy spend weekly or monthly
✅ No deposits or reconnection fees when moving in or out
Landlords, are you tired of chasing tenants for payments? JKNV Energy offers prepaid solutions that make tenant management hassle-free.
How to Install a Prepaid Electricity Meter in South Africa
Thinking about installing a prepaid meter? Here’s how the process works with JKNV Energy:
Step 1: Assess Your Needs
The first thing to consider is what you need the prepaid meter for. Are you wanting to get off the billing system, thus eliminating your council/Eskom bill for electricity? For this type of meter, you will need to contact the council or Eskom, whichever bills you for electricity. This is a council/Eskom meter, and private companies are not able to assist in this process at all.
Do you need a single meter for your rental property, eg granny flat home or multiple units, where you need to sub-meter each unit individually for rental properties? We’ll help you find the best solution.
Step 2: Choose a Licensed Provider
JKNV Energy is an accredited provider with over 10 years of experience in installing SABS-approved prepaid meters across South Africa.
Step 3: Site Inspection & Quote
Our team can conduct a site inspection and provide a transparent quote with no hidden fees.
Step 4: Installation & Registration
We install the meter, register it on the prepaid vending system, and provide you with all the info you need to get started.
Cost Factors to Consider
- Meter unit price
- Installation costs (based on property set up and meter type required)
- Admin fees associated with the management of meters
Prepaid Electricity & Load Shedding in 2025
While load shedding in South Africa has significantly improved in 2025 compared to previous years, it’s still an occasional reality for many areas. Even when the situation is mostly stable, having better control over your electricity usage remains a top priority for homeowners, landlords, and tenants alike.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to manage your energy consumption, whether load-shedding happens once a week or once a month, is through a traditional prepaid electricity meter.
How Prepaid Meters Help During Load Shedding
Traditional prepaid electricity meters, like the ones supplied and installed by JKNV Energy, play an important role in helping you stay informed and prepared when load shedding strikes. Here’s how:
- You Can Monitor Your Credit in Advance
Even though load shedding has become less frequent, it still pays to be prepared. With a prepaid meter, you can keep an eye on your remaining credit and top up as needed before outages occur. This avoids the inconvenience of your power running out unexpectedly when the grid comes back online. - Instant Reconnection After Load Shedding
After a scheduled load-shedding period, your electricity supply automatically resumes—provided you have credit on your meter. Traditional prepaid meters make this seamless. If you’re topped up and ready, there’s no extra waiting time or complicated process to reconnect. - No Delays Due to Account Issues
Postpaid billing systems can sometimes complicate reconnections if there are arrears or payment issues. With prepaid, you’re always in control. As long as you’ve purchased units, your service continues uninterrupted after outages. - Track Usage & Budget Around Load-shedding Schedules
Although load shedding is less frequent, people are more aware of their electricity consumption patterns. Prepaid meters allow users to monitor how much they’re using and adjust accordingly—whether that’s switching off heavy appliances or reducing consumption before a planned outage.
Traditional Prepaid Meters vs. Smart Meters During Load Shedding
Some providers offer smart meters with real-time data tracking, automated alerts, and mobile app control. These can be useful for tech-savvy users who want remote access and additional features.
However, traditional prepaid electricity meters, like the ones JKNV Energy provides, are still the preferred choice for many South Africans. They are:
- Simple to use
- Cost-effective
- Reliable and easy to maintain
- Compatible with the national prepaid vending system, making top-ups quick and convenient via retail outlets, ATMs, or online platforms.
If you prefer a straightforward, dependable system without the need for apps or internet connections, a traditional prepaid meter is often the better choice.
Do Prepaid Meters Work During Load Shedding?
This is a common question, especially for new users of prepaid systems. Here’s what you need to know:
- During load shedding, everyone in the affected area loses access to electricity, whether they use prepaid or post-paid meters.
- By the same token, if you have a water prepaid meter, and there is no water in the area, your water prepaid meter will not be able to dispense water.
- Your water meter and electricity meter is still reliant on the service being available from your council/main supply, whether it is prepaid or not, council meter or sub meter.
- Your prepaid meter does not lose its settings, credit balance, or functionality during outages. Once the grid power is restored, your meter picks up where it left off.
- If you’ve topped up before the outage, your electricity supply will return immediately.
- If you run out of credit before load-shedding begins, you’ll need to purchase more units and load them before you can use power again.
Pro Tip
Top up your prepaid meter when you’re on higher stages of load shedding, even if you don’t think you need to yet. Delays in power restoration can cause power surges or voltage drops when the electricity returns. By ensuring you have sufficient credit ahead of time, you can avoid the stress of trying to recharge at the last minute, especially if online services are slow or retail vendors are closed.
Why Prepaid is Still the Smarter Choice in 2025
Even with load-shedding largely under control, prepaid electricity meters continue to offer a flexible and efficient way to manage your power usage:
- You pay only for what you use
- No monthly billing surprises
- You maintain control over your household or rental property’s energy consumption
- Easy top-ups, whether load-shedding happens once a week or once in a blue moon
With JKNV Energy’s traditional prepaid meter solutions, you can stay ahead of the game without overcomplicating things. Whether you’re a landlord managing multiple units or a homeowner looking for hassle-free control, prepaid metering remains the reliable choice in 2025.
Common Misconceptions About Prepaid Electricity Meters
Myth #1: Prepaid electricity is more expensive
False. Prepaid electricity rates are often similar to or cheaper than postpaid options, depending on your municipality or provider.
Myth #2: Prepaid meters are complicated
False. Modern meters are user-friendly, with online dashboards and easy top-up options.
Myth #3: Only tenants need prepaid meters
False. Homeowners and businesses are switching to prepaid for better budget control and energy management.
How JKNV Energy Simplifies Prepaid Metering
At JKNV Energy, we offer:
✔️ Easy supply and installation of prepaid meters
✔️ Purchase of prepaid meters, whereby you can get your own plumber or electrician to do your installation
✔️ Simple top-up options, online, mobile, via banking app or retail
✔️ Dedicated customer support for property owners and tenants
Whether you manage one property or many, we have a solution that fits your needs.
Take Control of Your Electricity in 2025
The future of energy management in South Africa is prepaid. It’s flexible, transparent, and tailored to meet the needs of modern homeowners and landlords.
Ready to make the switch?
Contact JKNV Energy today for a free, no-obligation quote, and let’s take the first step toward smarter electricity management in 2025.
