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Don’t Let the Lights Go Out While You’re Away: Festive Season Tips from MidCity Utilities

By MidCity Utilities (Pty) Ltd

As the festive season approaches, many households are preparing for road trips, family gatherings, or a well-deserved holiday. But before you pack your bags and hit the road, make sure your home doesn’t get left in the dark. MidCity Utilities shares essential tips to help both post-paid and prepaid electricity users avoid power disruptions while away.

Why You Need to Plan Ahead

Holiday excitement can sometimes lead to overlooked responsibilities like paying your electricity bill. Whether you’re a post-paid or prepaid customer, planning ahead is key to ensuring your home stays powered while you’re away.

Post-paid Customers

Post-paid electricity users receive monthly statements in advance, giving them ample time to plan and pay. However, being away during the billing cycle doesn’t exempt you from payment responsibilities. To avoid disconnections and penalty charges, settle your account before leaving.

Prepaid Customers: Your Holiday Power Checklist

Prepaid users rely on the number of units loaded onto their meters. Even when you’re not home, appliances like fridges, security systems, and geysers continue to consume electricity. Here’s how to avoid coming back to a powerless home:

1. Top Up Before You Go

Purchase enough electricity to cover your time away. Also, plan for a top-up upon your return to avoid delays in restoring power.

2. Use the MidCity Utilities App

  • Monitor your remaining balance in real time.
  • Track daily consumption to plan better.
  • Receive low balance notifications via SMS—just ensure your mobile number is updated in the system.

3. Switch Off Non-Essentials

Unplug all non-essential appliances from wall sockets. Electronics like TVs, computers, and amplifiers consume electricity even in standby mode.

4. Set Your Geyser Timer

  • Turn off your geyser from the day you leave until you return.
  • If you have a timer, reduce its schedule or temperature setpoint.
  • Did you know? Geysers can account for up to 40% of your electricity usage.

5. Secure Your Home with Power

Check the batteries for your alarm system, electric fence, access gate, and garage door well in advance. These systems rely on electricity to function properly and keep your home secure.

Final Thoughts

A few simple steps can ensure peace of mind while you’re away. By planning ahead, you not only protect your home but also avoid unnecessary costs and complications. MidCity Utilities encourages all customers to take proactive measures to ensure a safe, powered, and stress-free festive season.

For more information or assistance, download the MidCity Utilities App or contact our customer support team.

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How can I purchase pre-paid electricity?

By making use of one of the following:

  • MidCity Utilities App

  • MidCity Utilities Website

  • Internet Banking

  • Unipin vouchers
  • Unipin vouchers can be purchased at registered retailers, garages and other suppliers.
  • When providing your pre-paid meter number to the cashier, the pre-paid purchase will transfer over to the meter automatically.

  • If you do not provide your meter number to the cashier and you receive the voucher slip, you must follow the steps as set out thereon.

  • Make sure you are using the correct meter number.
  • After registering with MidCity Utilities for pre-paid electricity, our Customer Care Personnel will SMS you your meter number.

  • When you register for the Mobile App or on our website, you will also be able to see your meter number.

  • Clients who also request to receive monthly statements, even though they are on pre-paid, will be able to see their meter number on their monthly statement.

  • Contact our Customer Care Personnel.
  • Log in to either our Mobile App or website.

  • SMS the word Balance (space) meter number to 37823. You will receive an SMS with your meter balance and predicted zero balance date.

  • Use your keypad, if you have one.
  • Yes. A low balance notification will be sent to the registered cell phone number that is loaded onto our system.

  • The low balance notification will be sent 48 hours before the calculated depletion date.

  • The depletion date received on the low balance notification, Mobile App or website is an estimation and depends on a client’s consumption habits and changes.

Mobile App or Website

  • The final step in the process on the Mobile App or website will indicate if the transaction was successful.

  • Transfer of credits to the meter can take approximately 10 minutes after the purchase is completed successfully.

  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.

Internet Banking

  • Confirmation of transaction is provided by your banking service.

  • You will receive an SMS or email with the value of the token as well as the 20-digit code already loaded on your meter.

  • Purchases through Internet Banking can take approximately 30 minutes to transfer over to the meter.

  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.

Unipin voucher

  • After following the process reflected on the voucher with your cell phone, you will receive confirmation and notification on your device.

  • Purchases through Unipin vouchers can take approximately 30 minutes to transfer over to the meter.

  • On the Mobile App, website or SMS balance enquiry, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to update the effective current balance after a purchase was made.