Smart meter rollout reaches 15 000 homes across Komani

The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) has reached a significant service-delivery milestone, officially completing the installation of 15 000 smart electricity meters across Komani, with work concentrated in Ezibeleni and Mlungisi. This marks the end of Phase 1 of the municipality’s large-scale metering modernisation programme.

According to a media statement released on Monday, the installation phase began on 20 August 2025 and concluded on 4 December 2025, involving a coordinated effort between the main contractor and several locally appointed subcontractors. The initiative forms part of a national effort to modernise municipal electricity distribution, reduce losses, improve billing accuracy, and provide households with more reliable service.

First phase completed despite infrastructure challenges

The municipality confirmed that while the rollout progressed relatively smoothly, teams encountered a number of technical complications, largely caused by vandalised, stolen or deteriorated electricity infrastructure in certain neighbourhoods. These issues required additional inspections, repairs and coordination with municipal technicians before installations could proceed.

Infrastructure defects were particularly evident in parts of Mlungisi, where the municipality has already conducted a full audit and will begin corrective work in early 2026. This process is intended to stabilise the network and ensure that smart meters function optimally once the next installation phase begins.

In contrast, Ezibeleni benefitted from earlier infrastructure improvement work, leaving the area with what the municipality described as “optimal infrastructure conditions”. As a result, the installation process in Ezibeleni moved quicker and with fewer technical delays.

Municipal spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa, whose office issued the statement, noted that community cooperation played a major role in the success of the rollout. Residents reportedly worked closely with contractors, granting access where required and reducing disruptions.

35 000 smart meters to be installed across Enoch Mgijima

The broader project aims to install all 35 000 smart meters across the municipality, replacing older analogue and non-smart metering systems. The project is funded by National Treasury, allowing EMLM to modernise its electricity distribution network without placing additional financial pressure on ratepayers.

The municipality emphasised that once the full rollout is complete, all households and businesses connected to the municipal grid will be operating on smart metering technology. This system is expected to help improve accuracy in energy consumption recording, streamline billing, and support more stable service delivery.

Smart meters also allow municipalities to better manage peak electricity demand, identify faults faster, and reduce unaccounted-for losses—one of the challenges many South African municipalities continue to face.

Community cooperation praised

According to the media release, residents of Mlungisi and Ezibeleni welcomed the installation teams and worked constructively with them. This, the municipality said, contributed to meeting the December completion deadline for Phase 1.

Local subcontractors were also involved, creating temporary employment and skills-development opportunities during the rollout. For many young technicians in Komani, the project provided practical experience in electrical maintenance, installation work and project management.

Next steps: Infrastructure repairs and Phase 2

While Phase 1 is now complete, the municipality has begun preparing for the next phase of installations. This will involve:

• Repairing and upgrading damaged infrastructure, especially in Mlungisi.

• Deploying additional contractors and teams to accelerate installation in 2026.

• Continuing household assessments to verify meter locations and connection quality.

• Rolling out smart meters to the remaining 20 000 households and businesses.

The municipality is expected to announce updated timelines early next year.

In the statement, the municipality reiterated that the smart meter programme is “a strategic project designed to create a more reliable, transparent, and modern electricity service for all residents”.

Local relevance: What this means for Komani

For residents of Komani, Ezibeleni and Mlungisi, the successful completion of Phase 1 is a promising step towards improved service delivery in a region that has long struggled with electrical faults, meter tampering, and ageing infrastructure.

Smart metering will also enable households to better manage electricity usage, track consumption in real time, and purchase prepaid units with greater accuracy.

The full 35 000-meter rollout will, however, require ongoing cooperation between residents, contractors and municipal officials, particularly in areas where infrastructure is severely damaged.