Frequently Asked Questions
You will NOT be able to use
Key Revision 1 electricity tokens
after 1 November 2024,
without first affecting a
key revision 2 change on your electricity meter.
BELOW IS THE COUNTDOWN TO THE DEADLINE
- 00Days
- 00Hours
- 00Minutes
INTRODUCTION TO TID ( Token IDentifier )
BCMM is embarking on a TID project for the electricity meters of the public citizens of the Municipality. The Token Identifier is a 24-bit field, contained in STS compliant tokens, that identifies the date and time of the token generation. It is used to determine if a token has already been used in a payment meter. The TID represents the number of minutes elapsed since the base date of 1st January 1993. The incrementing of the 24-bit field means that at some point in time, the TID value will roll over to a zero value. All STS prepayment meters will be affected by TID roll over on the 24/11/2024. Any tokens generated after this date and utilizing the 24-bit TID, calculated on base date 1993, will be rejected by the meters as being old tokens as the TID value encoded in the token will have reset back to 0.
What to do to prepare?
Where to start?
1. Prepaid Meter User – Read through and follow instructions carefully.
2. Not a prepaid Meter User – you can read through to assist someone you know who does have a prepaid meter.
What is TID & does it affect me?
What you need to know about TID? Click here
Frequently Asked Questions about TID. Click here
I haven’t used up all my credit tokens (bought coupons)
+++ Use up ALL spare tokens before proceeding further. +++
Click here -> Customer Portal to access your last 5 tokens purchased and get your key change tokens.
I want to obtain my key change tokens
Log in (register) to the customer portal and request your change tokens
Click here -> Customer Portal
Video instruction on how to input tokens into my meter
View procedures to add the change tokens to your Electrical PrePaid meter
Click here -> Example Videos
All prepaid meter users, vending service providers and meter manufactures
- On the 24th of November 2024 all ‘old’ meter keys will ‘expire’ and tokens will not work in the meters, so we have to start using a new meter key before that date
- Think of your car odometer – it rolls over to zero at some point, this is what happens to the meter key and it stops working
- In order to update your meter keys you will be required to insert a special token called a Key Change Token. This is 2 x 20 digit tokens that must be inserted one after the other, just like credit tokens.
- You need to ensure that you use up all your old, unused credit tokens before you enter the key change tokens. If you do not enter your credit tokens first, you will not be able to use them after you have entered the key change tokens.
- Your credit on the meter will not be affected.
No, you will need to have your meter changed if it is a properly functioning prepaid meter
- It is a set of 2 X 20-digit numbers that you will need to enter into the meter in the sequence that it is given to you.
- Always remember to wait a few seconds before entering each set of 20-digit numbers as each meter number is different and may need the pause to read the tokens correctly.
- Once the tokens are entered into the meter you will be safe to carry on using the meter and come 2024 your meter will continue to function normally.
So that your meter is upgraded with a new encryption key to ensure that it functions correctly after November 2024.
If you have been issued the key change tokens but do not enter them any credit tokens you purchase thereafter will not work in the meter.
Contact the Municipality Call Centre on 087 285 9010
This is not true at all, prepaid meters measuring rate cannot be adjusted by tokens, that can only be done at the meter manufacturers factory in a calibrated manner.
Visit https://www.tidrollover.com or https://www.sts.org.za/tid-rollover to find out more information.
The credit on your meter remains. It will not be affected.
No, you need to use up all credit tokens before you enter the key change tokens.
- Click the link on the website to access the BCMM customer Portal
- Municipal Cashier Points
- All other vending points
- USSD – *120*49993#
- All other vending points – COMING SOON!
