Kimberley – The replacement of thousands of prepaid electricity meters to curb electricity income losses of about R3 million a month has started in Kimberley, a Sol Plaatje municipality spokesman said on Thursday.

“The municipality was experiencing a high incidence of tampering and by-passing of meters,” said spokesman Sello Matsie.

He said the number of known meters being by-passed stood at about 1200, while the total number of meters tampered with was estimated at 5 000.

“This was costing the council in excess of R3m a month,” he said

Matsie said the new meters contained technology which could help stop the proliferation of by-passed and tampered-with meters.

The project had started in the informal settlements of Kutlwanong, Beaconsfield, and Southridge. – Sapa