Multinational electronics company Landis+Gyr Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) unveiled its latest electricity smart metering innovation, the E480 DIN-Rail meter, at the Enlit Africa 2026 Conference and Exhibition, in Cape Town, on May 20.

The E480 is a solution designed to help utilities and consumers better manage electricity use amid South Africa’s ongoing energy challenges.

In a media release, Landis+Gyr note that launching the E480 at Enlit Africa shows the urgency and relevance of accelerating smarter, more resilient electricity infrastructure across South Africa and the broader region.

As the country continues to navigate grid constraints, rising electricity demand and the transition to more decentralised energy systems, the company notes that the need for smarter, more responsive electricity infrastructure has become increasingly urgent.

Hence, it explains that the E480 electricity smart meter is positioned to support this shift by ensuring greater visibility, control and efficiency across the electricity value chain.

The E480 is a smart prepayment electricity meter that supports both prepayment and post-payment environments.

It enables two-way communication and provides real-time access to electricity consumption data, empowering utilities and consumers with actionable insights to better manage electricity usage.

“The future of energy in South Africa depends on smarter, more adaptive electricity systems. Solutions like the E480 give utilities and consumers the tools they need to respond more effectively to electricity demand, improve efficiency, and unlock new opportunities within the energy ecosystem,” says Landis+Gyr CEO South Africa Connel Ngcukana.

The meter leverages narrowband-Internet of Things connectivity, with 2G fallback, to enable reliable, real-time communication with the head-end system, and a mobile application that replaces the traditional customer interface unit, giving users direct access to their electricity consumption data, prepayment functionality, and energy insights.

Beyond operational efficiency, Landis+Gyr say the E480 introduces practical use cases that directly benefit South African consumers.

These include load limiting capabilities, which can help reduce pressure on the national grid and lessen the need for loadshedding, as well as support for households with solar PV systems.

The company says this enables consumers to feed excess generated electricity back into the grid, supporting greater energy resilience and participation in the energy market.

With advanced features such as power quality monitoring, demand management, tamper detection and remote supply control, the solution also strengthens grid stability and improves revenue protection for utilities.

“Designing and manufacturing the E480 locally in Gauteng, South Africa, reflects our long-term commitment to South Africa. It allows us to support local skills development and job creation; while ensuring we deliver solutions that are tailored to the unique needs of our market,” says Ngcukana.

The launch at Enlit Africa included a live product reveal and demonstration, offering industry stakeholders a first-hand look at how the technology can support South Africa’s energy transition.