How to Upgrade a Prepaid Meter Yourself: Ensure Uninterrupted Electricity
If you’re in South Africa and wondering how to upgrade a prepaid meter, you’re definitely not alone — and you’ve landed in the perfect spot!
With the TID rollover fast approaching, failing to upgrade could cause your meter to stop accepting tokens altogether. No one wants a surprise blackout, so let’s walk through this simple step-by-step guide to help you upgrade your prepaid meter quickly and confidently. Keep the lights on, skip the stress, and enjoy uninterrupted electricity.
What Is a Prepaid Meter?
A prepaid meter is an electricity meter that works like a pay-as-you-go system. It works in a way similar to topping up a prepaid phone. Instead of receiving a monthly bill, you buy electricity credit in advance. The meter deducts units as you use power. Once the credit runs out, the supply stops until you recharge. Therefore, you can easily track consumption. This helps households save electricity on purpose and avoid unexpected bills.
Why Do You Need to Upgrade Your Prepaid Meter?
The main cause of a prepaid meter upgrade is a technical event known as the Token Identifier (TID) Rollover. The current software, which encodes each electricity token with a date-based security code, is set to expire by November 2024. This affects all prepaid electricity meters that use the Standard Transfer Specification (STS) technology.
Once your existing credit runs out, your meter will no longer accept new tokens. Without the upgrade, you won’t be able to recharge and will experience a complete power cut. Upgrading ensures your meter can read the new token format, keeping your electricity supply uninterrupted until at least 2045.
How to Upgrade a Prepaid Meter: Step-by-Step Instructions
The prepaid electricity meter update is a one-time DIY process. You can finish it by yourself. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to upgrade your prepaid electricity meter, based on information provided by Eskom and various municipalities in South Africa.
Step 1. Verify if an Upgrade is Required
Enter the code “1844 6744 0738 4377 2416” on your meter keypad.
If the display shows 1 or 1.2, your meter is still on the old system (KRN1) and needs to be re-coded.
If it is 2 or 2.2, your meter has already been updated to KRN2, and no further action is required.
Step 2. Purchase New Electricity Credit
When you purchase electricity from an authorized vendor (such as a bank app, online portal, or physical store), their system will be enabled to issue the special codes for the upgrade. Instead of receiving a single 20-digit token, you will receive three tokens:
The first 20-digit Key Change Token (KCT1)
The second 20-digit Key Change Token (KCT2)
Your regular 20-digit electricity credit token
Step 3. Enter the Key Change Tokens into Your Meter
This is the most critical part of the process. You must enter the first 20-digit KCT1 and the second KCT2 in the correct sequence, ensuring there are no typing mistakes or skipped digits, as even a single error could cause the upgrade to fail.
Step 4. Load Electricity Credit After Upgrade
After successfully entering the two key change tokens, your meter is now upgraded. Enter the third 20-digit code you received when you made your purchase. Your meter will accept the token, and your new units will be loaded.
What Happens If You Don’t Upgrade in Time?
Missing the prepaid meter upgrade deadline may lead to a complete loss of electricity supply. Once your existing credit runs out, your meter will not be able to accept new tokens. Here’s a breakdown of what happens.
1. Your Meter Will Reject New Tokens
If your meter has not been upgraded, its internal clock is still operating on the old system. When you enter a new token, the meter’s security software will see the reset TID as an “old” or “replayed” token and will reject it. This means you cannot load new units.
2. Loss of Electricity Supply
Once your current electricity credit is depleted, the meter will automatically shut off the power. Since you can’t load new tokens, your power supply will remain off until the meter is properly re-coded.
3. More Complicated and Costly Re-coding
If you miss the deadline, you may need to contact your electricity provider to request Key Change Tokens. In some cases, especially for meters that are tampered with or inactive — a physical inspection or full replacement may be required. Depending on the prepaid electricity meter price, replacement costs can reach up to R7,000.
Key Things to Know Before and After Upgrading a Prepaid Meter
Knowing the right steps to take before and after a prepaid electricity update ensures a smooth transition and prevents any loss of service or credit. Here are the key things to know.
Before Upgrading
Use up all old tokens: Once your meter is re-coded, it will not accept any tokens that were generated on the old system (KRN1). Ensure you load any previously purchased tokens that are still outstanding before you begin the upgrade process. This includes any vouchers you might have bought but haven’t entered yet.
Verify if your meter needs an upgrade: You can check the status of your meter with a simple keypad command. This is a good practice even if you’ve been told you are in an upgrade area. Just enter 1844 6744 0738 4377 2416 on your meter’s keypad. If the display shows 1 or 1.2, your meter needs an upgrade. If it shows 2 or 2.2, your meter has already been upgraded, and no further action is required.
Understand the process: The upgrade is a “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) process. You will not need to pay anyone to come to your home to do it. The only items you need are the special codes, which are provided when you make your next electricity purchase.
Beware of scams: Criminals may try to take advantage of the situation. Never pay anyone who comes to your door claiming to be a contractor who needs to “upgrade” your meter. Keep your meter number and personal information private.
Plan for possible interruptions: While the upgrade itself is quick, there may be short power interruptions. Before updating, ensure your home backup system is working properly. If you don’t have one, a portable power station can keep essential devices like lights, routers, and phones running.
For example, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station offers expandable capacity from 4kWh to 12kWh.
It is equal to some of the best home backup systems. Your home appliances are sure to keep running during a prepaid meter update.
Plus, you never need to worry about using sensitive electronics. The 10 ms UPS feature ensures they continue to operate without interruption or data loss during a power interruption.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station
After Upgrading
Your meter number remains the same: The upgrade is a software change, not a physical replacement. It doesn’t affect any electricity units you had on your meter before the upgrade. Your unique meter number will also not change. That is, if you’re wondering how to upgrade your prepaid meter to higher amps, this update doesn’t help.
Future token purchases will be normal: Once your meter has been successfully re-coded, all future electricity purchases will revert to the standard single 20-digit token. You will no longer receive the two special Key Change Tokens.
Troubleshooting: If the upgrade process fails, do not panic. Contact your electricity provider (Eskom or your local municipality). They have dedicated support channels, including call centers, email addresses, and chatbots, to assist you with the process and provide new tokens if needed.
Conclusion
Upgrading your prepaid meter on time ensures continuous electricity, accurate billing, and peace of mind. With this step-by-step guide, you now know how to upgrade a prepaid meter safely and efficiently. Follow the process, and you’ll be ready for the TID rollover without any stress or downtime.
FAQs
Can I still use old tokens after upgrading the meter?
No, you cannot. Once your meter is upgraded, it will no longer accept tokens generated on the old system. This is why it is crucial to use up any old, unused tokens you have before starting the upgrade process. After the upgrade, only new tokens generated on the new system will be accepted.
Is the meter upgrade free?
Yes, the prepaid meter software upgrade is free. You do not need to pay anyone to perform the upgrade for you. Be wary of anyone claiming to be a contractor and demanding payment for this service, as it is a known scam.
Will the meter use more electricity after the software update?
Surely, it will not. The prepaid meter upgrade is a technical fix to ensure the meter’s ability to accept new tokens after the Token Identifier (TID) rollover. There are cases where some people report higher bills after a smart meter installation. However, this is often because the new meter is more accurate, revealing that the old meter was under-recording your actual usage.