How Smart Are South Africa’s Smart Prepaid Meters – and for Whom?
Smart prepaid meters are often marketed as a win-win option. Landlords and corporations can reduce the risk of unpaid bills, municipalities and utilities improve revenue collection, and residents get real-time insight into how much electricity they’re using and what it costs. You can buy electricity in smaller chunks throughout the month, top up from an app or retailer, and see your remaining balance almost instantly. But the “smart” technology alone doesn’t guarantee a fair or trusted experience. As ESI Africa states, smart meter rollout in African countries is still in its infancy, and most adoption research remains heavily Euro- and US-centric. However, as they point out, smart meters have major benefits for all…
READ MORE: https://www.idealprepaid.com/ohpp/articles/a19-ps-2025-11-18
