Kampala, (UG):- Uganda’s primary electricity distributor, UMEME Ltd is set to suspend its services for Yaka prepaid meter users who do not upgrade their meters by the November 24 deadline.
This upgrade, according to the power distributor is essential for a smooth, uninterrupted power supply and is part of Umeme’s commitment to maintaining quality service as it approaches the end of its contract with the Ugandan government in March 2025.
The company’s exit will after nearly two decades of private sector involvement in Uganda’s power distribution marks a significant transition in Uganda’s energy sector as the government explores new management options for electricity distribution.
As the government considers a state-run model or alternative providers to ensure continued and reliable service, UMEME says having the YAKA meters upgraded to the latest version of the firmware is part of this transition.
To help customers verify or have their meters have been upgraded, Umeme has put in place specific codes customers can dial in their respective meters.
How to upgrade UMEME Yaka meters
According to UMEME, customers can upgrade the YAKA meters themselves on any purchase of the Yaka tokens between now and the November 24 deadline.
- When you receive a set of 3 tokens after purchase, each token with 20 digits in this format: xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx, yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy yyyy, zzzz zzzz zzzz zzzz zzzz.
- Now enter the tokens in the order they are displayed (separated by a semi-colon). Start with the xxxx (20 digits), after successful loading, follow with the yyyy (also 20 digits), after successful loading, then finally enter the zzzz tokens (also 20 digits).
UMEME says the 60-digit code received for the upgrade can be manually entered in a specific order, making the transition to the upgraded system seamless.
How do I check if my Yaka meter is upgraded?
Different meter types have specific codes to check upgrade status. Conlog, Hexing, Chint, and Inhemeter meters all have unique indicators to confirm whether the upgrade was successful.
- For a Conlog meter: Press #005#, r1:t2 means not upgraded, r2:t2 or r2:t10 means upgraded.
- For Hexing and Chint meters: Press 873 and press “Enter.” 01 means not upgraded, 02 means upgraded.
- For Inhemeter meter: Press 873 and press “Enter.” If the meter displays 01-02, it means it’s not upgraded, and 02-02 means the meter is already upgraded.
Umeme continues to urge all customers to complete the upgrade as soon as possible before November 24, 2024, to avoid potential service issues as its contract expiration approaches.
For more information, visit UMEME’s Yaka Meter Upgrade FAQs page here
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