Parliament demands transparency on Eskom’s R5.7bn smart meter rollout

Parliament calls for full disclosure on procurement process, suppliers and empowerment

- BANELE GININDZA

PARLIAMENT has called for greater scrutiny and transparency over Eskom’s R5.7 billion smart meter rollout, demanding full disclosure on procurement processes, suppliers, and empowerment plans linked to the large-scale project aimed at curbing electricity theft and losses.

Eskom executives on Wednesday told lawmakers that the board had approved R5.7 billion for the first year of the rollout, which forms part of a broader plan to install 6.2 million smart meters in South African households by 2027.

The initial 600 000 meters are expected to be rolled out by March 2026.

Speaking before Parliament's portfolio committee on electricity and energy on Wednesday, Eskom senior executive Collin Reddy said the rollout forms part of the utility’s digital transformation programme to modernise its network and reduce nontechnical losses, such as illegal connections and electricity theft.

Reddy said it is a crucial intervention to address illegal connections and electricity theft, which cost Eskom about 14.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) in losses — equivalent to more than R30bn in revenue last year.

He said the production cost of that lost energy is around R7bn to R8bn versus the revenue loss.