Zesa installs 55 000 prepaid meters

Zesa Holdings has installed 55 000 prepaid meters in domestic premises countrywide since August last year as it battles to cover all its 600 000 customers in the next five months. The power utility has also distributed more than 350 000 energy saver bulbs for free in Chitungwiza, Bulawayo and Gweru in the last two months.

Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company managing director Engineer Julian Chinembiri said the installation programme is progressing at a slow pace.

He said four companies, Solahart, ZTE, Finmark and Nyamazela are supplying the meters which are being installed in Harare, Chinhoyi, Bulawayo and Mutare.

Zesa plans to distribute over 5,5 million energy saver bulbs and save up to 200 megawatts daily. Last year Zesa said the new system will also improve ZETDC’s cash flow and the money would be used to buy more electricity from neighbouring countries.

“With prepaid meters, all customers will consume what they have paid for, which is a way of monitoring demand and hence reduce the frequency of load-shedding,” the company said in a statement.

The installation of prepaid meters was initially rejected by Bulawayo residents after the power utility had insisted that residents pay outstanding balances before new accounts could be activated.

Zesa has since reversed the decision and will now be deducting 20% of every prepaid purchase made to settle the outstanding debts.