Zesa intensifies electricity disconnections

ZESA Holdings has intensified electricity disconnections to its customers as a way of forcing them to pay up and also to maintain the availability of electricity by ploughing money back into generating the power. The power utility recently slashed domestic debts by US$160 for every household, while writing off a collective US$80 million owed by farmers.

The total bill relief for domestic users, farmers and welfare organisations amounts to US$170 million.

Zesa's subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution company said in a statement that disconnections would increase.

"Customers are advised that ZETDC has intensified credit control measures countrywide in an effort to maintain security of supplies and defaulting customers will be disconnected," the company said.

The power utility said failure by customers to pay for service would threaten the current power supply situation.

"Failure by customers to pay will threaten the prevailing favourable power supply situation and lead to the deterioration in the quality of service that the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company provides and has a negative impact on economic recovery," ZETDC said.

"Evidently, as our revenue collection improves our ability to pay our suppliers, chief among them being the regional utilities who supply us with power improves as well, thereby enabling us to import even more power leading to a reduction in the extent and duration of load shedding especially as we go through mandatory and statutory maintenance at power stations."

Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira confirmed the disconnections.

"The disconnections are ongoing for those who failed to pay their bills in time," he said.

"If customers do not pay, chances are high that they will be visited and disconnected."