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Going away for the holiday season?

Going away for the holiday season?

By Dirk Groenewald, Executive Director, MidCity Utilities

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking forward to a well-deserved break after a challenging year.

For those fortunate enough to go away, leaving your home behind can present a few challenges. The last thing anyone wants is to return to unpaid bills, disconnected utilities, a burst geyser, leaking pipes, damaged electrical equipment, or spoiled food.

So, what can you do to prevent losses, unnecessary costs, and unpleasant surprises? Here’s a helpful checklist:

1. Financial planning:

  • Set aside funds for your regular monthly expenses in December and January.
  • If possible, pay recurring monthly expenses in advance.
  • Plan for unforeseen emergencies or expenses as best you can.
  • Ensure your insurance is up-to-date and provides sufficient coverage.
  • Do not make unnecessary debt or loans.

2. Switch off all electrical appliances or equipment:

  • Unplug all non-essential electrical appliances from wall sockets.
  • Electronics like TVs, amplifiers, gaming consoles, and computers consume energy even when not in use. Unplug these devices before you leave to save on energy costs.
  • Invest in surge protectors for essential or sensitive equipment.
  • Switch off geysers.  Your geyser is the biggest single electricity guzzler and consumes as much as 40% of the electricity used in an average size home.
  • Ensure heat pumps, underfloor heating and other high electricity consuming equipment is switched off, unplugged, or switched off at the electrical distribution board.

3. Manage water usage:

  • Make sure all taps are closed.
  • Close all non-essential water valves (e.g., main supply, toilet, washing machine, sprinkler systems).
  • Take a water meter reading before you leave and compare it with the reading upon your return to check for leaks or unauthorised water usage.
  • Arrange for a responsible person to water your garden if needed.
  • Set timers for pool and water pumps to run less frequently while you’re away.

4. Emergency contacts or assistance:

  • Ask a trusted person (such as a house sitter or neighbour) to check on your home for any visible issues.
  • Provide this person with emergency contact numbers (e.g., insurance, plumber, electrician, managing agent, rental agent, security company).
  • Inform your security company of your holiday plans and who is permitted to access your property.
  • Leave spare keys with a trusted individual in case of emergencies.

5. Fridges, freezers, and spoilable food:

  • If you’re going away for an extended period, consider taking any perishable food with you or donating it to those in need.
  • Ensure a trusted person monitors your fridge and freezer to avoid any unpleasant surprises due to malfunction during your absence.

For more information, contact MidCity Utilities at 012 426 3400 or email us at customercare@midcityutilities.co.za

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MidCity Utilities © Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.

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.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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
Where can I buy a Unipin voucher?
  • Unipin vouchers can be purchased at registered retailers, garages and other suppliers.
How do I load a Unipin voucher?
  • 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.
Where do I get my meter number/meter serial 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.
How do I see what my meter balance is?
  • 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.
Will I receive low balance warnings or notifications?
  • 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.
How do I know that credit has been loaded?

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.
My token is not loading. What do I do?