eBusiness Weekly
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company(ZETDC) on Thursday rolled out the
second phase of installation of pre-paid electricity meters in Bulawayo, a project it hopes will enhance revenue collection.
A large part of households and other consumers in the city, the country’s second largest, were still using the old post-paid billing system seen as leaky in terms of revenue collection.
ZETDC acting managing director Howard Choga said the move will improve revenue and debt collection, which had been problematic for the power utility.
“This is a move which forms key building blocks towards a smart grid ZETDC. The step is coming at a time when the Government of Zimbabwe, through ZESA is addressing issues of revenue assurance, debt collection and inefficiencies in revenue collection amongst many objectives,” he said, in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of the roll out.
Choga said pre-paid meters will also help improve power supplies as consumers will now cast an eagle eye on their consumption levels.
“As such, we remain guided and motivated as we religiously seek to fulfill the objectives as enshrined in the National Developmental Strategy (NDS1 and 2),” he said, referring to the government’s current economic development blueprints.
“As of now, the utility has managed to migrate 751 000 domestic customers and small business points to the prepaid platform and 103 000 points are remaining on the old postpaid and load limit platform,” Choga said.
He said the power utility had procured enough pre-paid meters to cover all its uncovered clients in the city, and priority will be given to residential and small business clients.
“Roll out has already began starting with residential areas, farming points and small enterprises. The utility is expectant that by end of the second quarter, every client on post-paid platform would have been moved to prepaid meter system,” he said.
New Ziana
