CoCT Electricity Meter Replacement: What Southern Suburbs Residents Need to Know

CoCT electricity meter replacement programme is moving into the Southern Suburbs, with residents in Claremont, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Bishopscourt, Constantia, Plumstead, Southfield and Diep River among those affected.

The City of Cape Town says the meter replacement programme will continue through December 2026, replacing older electricity meters with prepaid and smart prepaid technology.

For homeowners and businesses in the Southern Suburbs, the rollout is worth understanding — particularly as electricity costs, energy monitoring and solar power become increasingly important considerations.

Which Cape Town suburbs are getting new electricity meters?

The latest phase of the City of Cape Town’s electricity meter replacement programme includes:

• Claremont
• Kenilworth
• Wynberg
• Bishopscourt
• Constantia
• Plumstead
• Southfield
• Diep River

The City is also returning to areas where previous installations were incomplete or where customers were missed during earlier phases.

The broader programme has already reached suburbs including Mowbray, Rosebank, Rondebosch, Rondebosch East, Newlands and Mitchells Plain during 2026.

In 2025, installations took place in areas such as Woodstock, Salt River, Observatory, Cape Town City Centre, Gardens, District Six, the Foreshore, Vredehoek and Tamboerskloof.

Is the new electricity meter compulsory?

For most affected customers, the replacement is compulsory.

The City is replacing older credit meters with prepaid meters, while some existing prepaid meters are being upgraded to newer smart prepaid meters.

The standard replacement is being carried out at no cost to the customer.

Homeowners should not pay a contractor for the standard City meter replacement.

Customers who currently use a credit meter but do not want prepaid functionality may apply for an AMI meter at their own cost if they wish to retain postpaid functionality.

How will I know when my electricity meter is being replaced?

Residents should not have to guess when their property is scheduled for an installation.

According to the City, affected customers will receive either a letter or telephone call informing them that their property has been scheduled.

The actual meter installation is expected to take approximately one hour.

Because electricity-related scams and impersonation remain a concern, residents should verify the identity of anyone claiming to be working on behalf of the City.

City-appointed contractors should carry identification confirming that they are authorised contractors, and their vehicles should be clearly marked.

If you are unsure whether an appointment or contractor is legitimate, contact the City directly before allowing work to proceed.

Does a new electricity meter mean higher electricity bills?

No.

The City has specifically sought to address concerns that replacing an old electricity meter automatically means customers will pay more for electricity.

Electricity costs are determined by the applicable tariff and electricity consumption — not simply by whether a property has an old or new meter.

One potential advantage of newer meters is that they can provide customers with better information about their electricity consumption.

For homeowners, this can make it easier to identify high-consumption appliances, monitor electricity usage and manage monthly energy costs.

What does this mean for Cape Town homeowners considering solar?

The meter replacement programme comes at a time when more Cape Town households are looking at solar panels, battery storage and backup power as ways to reduce their dependence on the electricity grid.

A new prepaid or smart prepaid meter does not remove the need for a properly designed solar installation.

However, homeowners considering solar should understand how their electricity meter, municipal supply, inverter, battery and solar PV system will work together.

A professional residential solar installation in Cape Town should take the property’s electricity consumption, roof space, solar exposure, inverter requirements, battery requirements and municipal regulations into account.

For households experiencing high electricity costs, solar can also provide an opportunity to reduce grid electricity consumption and gain greater control over energy usage.

Solar installation and smart electricity meters

If you are planning to install solar after receiving a new electricity meter, it is important to use a qualified solar installer who understands Cape Town’s electricity requirements.

A solar PV system can include:

• Solar panels
• A grid-tied or hybrid inverter
• Battery storage
• Backup circuits
• Monitoring equipment
• Appropriate protection and electrical equipment

The correct system depends on how much electricity the property uses and what the homeowner wants the solar system to achieve.

For example, a household primarily interested in reducing daytime electricity consumption may require a different system from a homeowner looking for battery backup during load shedding or grid outages.

What about solar for Cape Town businesses?

The meter replacement programme also has implications for commercial property owners and businesses looking for better ways to manage electricity costs.

For offices, retail properties, warehouses, workshops, guesthouses and other commercial premises, commercial solar installation in Cape Town can be designed around the property’s operating hours and electricity demand.

Businesses often have significant daytime electricity consumption, which can make solar PV particularly valuable when the system is correctly sized and installed.

A commercial solar assessment should consider factors such as:

• Historical electricity consumption
• Peak demand
• Operating hours
• Available roof or ground-mounted space
• Solar irradiation
• Inverter capacity
• Battery storage requirements
• Electrical infrastructure
• Municipal requirements
• Future electricity demand

The goal is not simply to install as many solar panels as possible. The goal is to design a system that makes financial and technical sense for the property.

Will smart meters help me monitor my electricity usage?

One of the advantages highlighted by the City is that newer meters can provide customers with more information about electricity consumption.

Better visibility into energy use can help homeowners and businesses identify where electricity is being consumed and make more informed decisions about energy efficiency.

This is particularly useful when combined with solar monitoring.

A properly configured solar system can allow property owners to monitor solar generation, battery state of charge, grid consumption and overall energy performance.

This gives homeowners and businesses a much clearer picture of how their energy system is performing.

Is the electricity meter replacement free?

For qualifying customers covered by the City’s replacement programme, the standard meter replacement is free of charge.

The City says customers will be contacted when their properties are scheduled.

If you believe your property was previously targeted but was missed, the City has encouraged residents to make contact rather than assuming they have been permanently excluded from the programme.

The City has also asked residents who want to ensure they are included in the replacement schedule to submit a completed application form requesting installation of a new prepaid meter to electricitycustomer.support@capetown.gov.za.

What should Cape Town residents do if they missed the rollout?

If your suburb has already been included in the programme but your property’s meter was not replaced, contact the City to determine what options are available.

The City has advised residents who missed an earlier installation to call 0860 103 089.

It is better to confirm your status directly with the City rather than paying an unknown contractor or assuming that your property will automatically be revisited.

What should homeowners do before installing solar?

If you are planning a solar installation in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, the electricity meter replacement is a good reason to review your property’s overall energy setup.

Before installing solar, consider:

1. Review your electricity consumption. Look at your historical electricity usage rather than guessing what size solar system you need.
2. Assess your roof. Roof orientation, shading, available space and structural considerations can all affect solar panel performance.
3. Decide what you want solar to achieve. Reducing electricity bills, providing backup power and increasing energy independence can require different system designs.
4. Consider battery storage. Batteries can store excess solar energy for later use and provide backup power when the grid is unavailable.
5. Check municipal requirements. Grid-connected solar installations must comply with the applicable electrical and municipal requirements.
6. Use an experienced solar installer. A properly designed and installed system is critical for safety, reliability and long-term performance.

Cape Town’s electricity landscape is changing

The City’s meter replacement programme is another step in the modernisation of Cape Town’s electricity infrastructure.

For residents in Claremont, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Bishopscourt, Constantia, Plumstead, Southfield and Diep River, the immediate priority is to understand when their property is scheduled for a replacement and to verify the identity of any contractor who arrives.

For homeowners and businesses, however, the bigger picture is increasingly about energy management.

Smart electricity meters, solar PV systems, battery storage and energy monitoring can all play a role in helping Cape Town property owners understand and manage their electricity consumption.

If you’re considering solar panels, battery backup or a complete solar power system for your Cape Town home or business, now is a good time to assess your property’s energy requirements and determine what system would be suitable.

Need help with solar in Cape Town? Contact our team for a professional assessment of your residential or commercial property and find out how a correctly designed solar and battery system can help you take greater control of your energy costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Southern Suburbs are affected by Cape Town’s electricity meter replacement programme?

The current phase includes Claremont, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Bishopscourt, Constantia, Plumstead, Southfield and Diep River.

Does the City charge for replacing the electricity meter?

The standard replacement under the City’s programme is being carried out at no cost to qualifying customers.

Will a new prepaid meter increase my electricity bill?

Not automatically. The City says electricity costs are determined by the applicable tariff and electricity consumption, rather than simply by the type or age of the meter.

Can I install solar after getting a new prepaid meter?

Solar installation can still be considered, but the system must be properly designed around the property’s electricity supply, meter, inverter, battery and applicable municipal requirements.

Is solar worth considering in Cape Town?

For many homes and businesses, solar can reduce reliance on grid electricity and help manage energy costs. The financial and technical benefits depend on factors including electricity consumption, solar resource, system size, battery requirements and installation costs.

Can businesses in Cape Town install solar?

Yes. Commercial solar systems can be designed for offices, retail premises, warehouses, industrial properties, hospitality businesses and other commercial buildings. A professional assessment is recommended to determine the appropriate system size and configuration.

How do I check whether my meter replacement appointment is legitimate?

City-appointed contractors should carry identification and use clearly marked vehicles. If you are unsure, contact the City of Cape Town directly on 0860 103 089 or email electricitycustomer.support@capetown.gov.za before allowing work to proceed.

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