Exploring the determinants of satisfaction with smart electricity meters in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa’s largest state-owned electricity utility, Eskom, is planning a rollout of smart electricity meters to all its customers between 2025 and 2029. The rollout of the smart electricity meters is envisaged to enable consumers to better manage their electricity consumption and allow Eskom to remotely monitor and adjust the electricity supply in response to demand pressure. However, the rollout of smart energy technologies in South Africa has previously faced resistance from households, which undermined the effectiveness of sustainable household energy technologies. Against this backdrop, we investigate the predictors of households’ satisfaction with the smart electricity meter. We collected data from 93 households with existing smart electricity meters to identify factors that influence their satisfaction with smart electricity meters. Then, we fitted three binary logistic regression models, each testing the predictors of household satisfaction with smart electricity meters. Results show that households have higher odds of being satisfied with smart meters if they perceive them to be safe (OR = 8.666; 95% CI: 1.289 – 76.325), reliable (OR = 8.999; 95% CI: 1.421 – 70.745), and with fewer billing disputes (OR = 15.668; 95% CI: 2.670 – 155.22). Given the deeply entrenched rejection of innovative household energy technologies in South Africa, the characteristics and utility value of smart electricity meters may encourage household satisfaction and acceptance.