KEY POINTS
- Eskom warns tampering with electricity meters is a crime, punishable by fines of up to R12,000 or prosecution.
- Illegal connections and meter fraud cost the utility R221 million between April 2024 and February 2025.
- The City of Ekurhuleni has joined the crackdown, imposing minimum penalties of R5,566.07 for offenders.
South Africa’s embattled power utility Eskom has issued a stern warning to customers tampering with electricity meters is a crime, and offenders face steep fines or criminal charges.
The utility said it has recorded a sharp rise in illegal meter bypassing and modifications in 2025, a practice that not only deprives Eskom of badly needed revenue but also exposes households to deadly risks, including fire and electrocution.
“Tampering with meters threatens lives, disrupts service reliability and undermines the economy,” Eskom said in a statement. “We will not hesitate to remove infrastructure or press criminal charges against offenders.”
Illegal Bypasses Costing Millions
The warning comes as Eskom battles mounting losses linked to theft and vandalism. Between April 2024 and February 2025, the company reported losses of R221 million from meter fraud and infrastructure crimes—slightly down from R271 million in the same period a year earlier, but still crippling for the utility’s already fragile balance sheet.
The City of Ekurhuleni has joined the clampdown, condemning illegal connections, ghost vending, and meter tampering. It has introduced strict penalties, including a minimum charge of R5,566.07 for reconnections.
Eskom, meanwhile, has cautioned that fines could reach R12,000, with repeat offenders facing criminal prosecution.
Officials say technicians are dispatched to audit meters whenever irregular consumption patterns are detected.
These inspections often reveal that households are using far more electricity than they purchase—sometimes through illegal prepaid vouchers sold by criminal syndicates.
Monde Bala, Eskom’s group executive for distribution, appealed to the public to help protect electricity infrastructure.
“Reliable electricity is essential for daily life, from preserving food to enabling children to study after dark,” Bala said. “Protecting the grid is a shared responsibility, and communities must help us curb theft and vandalism.”
Bala added that damaged equipment such as transformers can take weeks to replace, prolonging power outages for households and businesses.
Eskom also urged South Africans not to fall for scams where individuals offer to alter meters for payment. “If somebody offers to make changes on your meter, you should know it’s illegal,” the utility warned.
For now, Eskom is leaning on public appeals and heavy penalties to discourage tampering. But with infrastructure crime still costing hundreds of millions of rand annually, the battle for South Africa’s power grid is far from over.
