How to Read Your Electricity Meter
Reading your own electricity meter is a simple but valuable skill that helps you track your energy usage, verify the accuracy of your municipal bill, and submit self-readings to avoid estimated bills. This guide explains how to read both conventional (post-paid) and prepaid (token) meters.
Types of Electricity Meters in South Africa
There are two main types of residential electricity meters in South Africa. Conventional meters (also called credit meters) record cumulative electricity consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and generate a monthly bill. Prepaid meters (also called token meters or keypad meters) deduct units from a pre-purchased balance.
Both types measure consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh), also referred to as units. One unit equals one kilowatt of power used for one hour.
Reading a Conventional (Dial or Digital) Meter
Older conventional meters have a series of rotating dials that display the cumulative reading. Digital meters display the reading on an LCD or LED screen.
For dial meters: read the dials from left to right. Each dial moves in the opposite direction to its neighbour. Record the number the pointer has most recently passed. If the pointer is exactly on a number, look at the dial to the right — if it has not yet passed zero, use the lower number.
- Locate your meter (usually on the outside wall, in a meter box, or in a communal meter room).
- For digital meters: press the display button if the screen is off. Read the five or six digits shown, ignoring any digits after a decimal point.
- For dial meters: read from left to right, noting the most recently passed number on each dial.
- Record the reading with the date and time.
- Compare to your previous reading: the difference is your consumption since the last reading.
- Submit the reading to your municipality via their online portal, app, or SMS service.
Your 20-digit meter number is shown on the meter display. It is also called the Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) and is what you need to buy prepaid electricity tokens.
Reading a Prepaid (Token) Meter
A prepaid meter shows the current unit balance rather than cumulative consumption. Pressing the display button (without entering any digits) will show your remaining balance in kWh.
To check how many units you have remaining, press the keypad button on the meter once. The display will show the current balance. Some meters cycle through multiple screens showing the balance, meter number, and last token amount.
How to Submit Your Own Meter Reading
If your municipality uses estimated billing (common when access to the meter is difficult), you can submit your own reading to ensure accurate billing. Most municipalities accept self-readings via their website, a dedicated SMS number, or their customer app.
- Take a clear photograph of the meter display with the reading visible
- Note the date, time, meter serial number, and the reading
- Submit via the municipality's online portal (e.g., www.joburg.org.za or www.capetown.gov.za)
- For Eskom: submit via www.eskom.co.za or the MyEskom Customer app
- Call the municipality's customer service line and provide the reading over the phone
- Keep a record of all submitted readings for your own reference
Understanding Your Meter Number
Your electricity meter has a unique serial number or meter point reference number. This is different from your account number. You will need the meter number when buying prepaid tokens, reporting a fault, or querying your account.
For prepaid meters, the 20-digit meter number is used to purchase tokens. The first digit indicates the meter type, and the remaining digits uniquely identify your meter. Never buy tokens for a meter number you are unsure of.
What to Do If Your Meter Reading Seems Wrong
If your meter is showing a reading that seems significantly higher or lower than expected, take a photograph of the display and compare readings over a 24-hour period. An unusually fast increase in reading may indicate a fault, an illegal connection, or a high-consumption appliance running continuously.
Report suspected meter faults to your municipality or Eskom on 08600 37566. Keep records of your readings as evidence.