A prepaid electricity meter is one of those things you don’t think much about until it stops doing what it’s supposed to. Then suddenly you’re stuck, trying to figure out why your units didn’t come through or what the screen message even means. It can feel like the meter is speaking another language. Most of the time it’s something small and easy to fix once you understand what’s happening. Read on as we’ll go through the most common prepaid electricity meter errors and give you clear steps to get things back on track.
Page Guide
Prepaid Electricity Meter Codes That Indicate An Error
Keypad Communication Issues: ERROR-30…., Conn-_FAIL, or E07
These errors all point to a communication problem between your indoor keypad and the outdoor meter.
How to Fix:
Plug your keypad into the electrical outlet closest to the outdoor meter. Ensure all switches are off, except the one where the keypad is plugged in.
Check the keypad’s batteries; they are not rechargeable and may need replacing if dead.
Reset your meter by pressing the “i”, BLUE, or “#” button. This action helps re-establish the connection between the two parts of your meter. This is not a technical error, so a technician is not needed. Also, testing the meter at a neighbor’s house won’t help as this error doesn’t require electricity.
“ConnEct” – The Connection Wait Error
This simply means your keypad is in the process of connecting to the meter.
How to Fix:
Be patient! Wait up to 30 minutes for the connection to complete.
“USED” – Token Already Used
This error indicates that the token you entered has already been consumed.
How to Fix:
Load a new token or purchase a fresh one.
“OUEr_Por” – Overload Error
Your prepaid electricity meter is telling you it’s overloaded with too many electrical appliances running simultaneously.
How to Fix:
Switch off all appliances for 30 minutes and allow the meter to reset.
Moving forward, try to use fewer appliances at once. You might also consider upgrading your power supply if this is a frequent issue.
“NOT_Act” – Meter Not Activated
This error means your meter hasn’t been activated yet.
How to Fix: Enter the activation token: 55555.
“E01” – Initialisation Error
Similar to the activation error, this indicates your meter hasn’t been initialised.
How to Fix:
Enter the initialisation token: 1275 4194 1448 6450 5970.
“Loct-oUT” – Token Lockout
This error occurs when your meter has locked out token entry, often due to exceeding your power supply limit by using too many appliances. You will not have power during this error.
How to Fix:
You need to wait for this message to clear on its own. In the future, try to use fewer appliances simultaneously to avoid this lockout.
“Meter battery is low”
This is a straightforward message.
How to Fix:
Replace the batteries in your meter.
“CIU not paired to any meter”
Your indoor keypad (CIU) needs to be linked to your outdoor meter.
How to Fix:
Enter your meter’s serial number on the meter keypad to pair the indoor and outdoor units.
When to Call Eskom: Errors You Can’t Clear
While many prepaid electricity meter errors are self-serviceable, some require Eskom’s intervention. If you see the following messages, it’s time to contact them:
“Your meter has a technical problem.”
“rEjEct” (Your token is invalid or has not been authenticated.)
For these issues, contact Eskom at 08600 37 566.
Tips To Prevent Future Electric Meter Box Issues
Understand and Perform the TID Rollover (Key Revision Number – KRN) Update:
Don’t delay: If you haven’t updated, contact your electricity provider (Eskom or your municipality) immediately for guidance.
Crucial: This was a significant issue in late 2024. Many meters needed to be updated to KRN 2. If your meter is still on KRN 1, it will reject new tokens.
Check your slip: When you purchase electricity, check the slip for “KRN”. If it’s KRN 1, your meter needs updating. If it’s KRN 2, you’re good (until 2045!).
How to update: Eskom and municipalities generally provide two 20-digit codes that you need to enter into your prepaid electricity meter. These codes often come with your next electricity purchase after the update is flagged for your meter.
Efficient Electricity Usage to Avoid Overloading:
- Energy-efficient appliances: Invest in appliances with high energy efficiency ratings (A+ or higher).
- Optimise usage during off-peak hours: If you are on a time-of-use tariff, schedule high-consumption activities (laundry, dishwashing) during off-peak hours.
- Manage geyser usage: Programme your geyser to an appropriate temperature and consider insulating it.
Purchase and Load Tokens Correctly:
- Verify meter number: Ensure the meter number on your purchased token from a spaza shop or through your app matches the physical meter number.
- Enter tokens carefully: Double-check the 20-digit code before entering it.
- Load tokens in sequence: If you receive multiple tokens (e.g., for a KRN update and credit), enter them in the exact sequence provided.
- Don’t buy in bulk (unnecessarily): There’s often no discount for buying electricity in large quantities, and you might be charged more per unit as your consumption increases within a billing cycle. Smaller, more frequent purchases can help you stay mindful of your usage.
- Beware of old tokens: As mentioned before, “USED” error means the token has already been entered.
Regular Maintenance and Vigilance:
- Inspect for tampering: Check your meter and its connections for any signs of damage or interference. Tampering is illegal and can lead to serious consequences.
- Report faults: If you suspect a technical problem with your meter that you cannot clear yourself, contact your electricity provider immediately. Do not attempt to fix it yourself.
- Stay informed: Keep an eye on announcements from Eskom and your local municipality regarding meter updates or changes.
Author: Editorial Team
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