News / National
ZESA threatens to immediately disconnect customers with outstanding bills
13 Feb 2012 at 05:41hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's power utility company, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has again threatened to immediately disconnect customers countrywide with outstanding bills.
"Customers currently in arrears and without an approved payment plan will henceforth be disconnected without further notice"
"Customers are advised that ZETDC has intensified credit control measures countrywide in an effort to maintain security of suppliers" said the parastatal on Monday.
Zesa, which is owed more than $537 million in unpaid electricity bills by domestic, industrial, mining and agricultural consumers, said it is having difficulties in paying regional power utilities for electricity
supplied.
However, several Zesa workers have been assaulted by residents for disconnecting power.
Consumers accuse Zesa of using estimated meter readings.
Zimbabwe is experiencing constant power outages due to diminished imports from regional suppliers. ZESA's capacity to generate enough electricity has fallen too because of a lack of spares, too little foreign currency to repair ageing equipment at the country's power
stations and inadequate coal supplies.
Load shedding by the power utility has severely affected various sectors of the economy. Telecommunication companies, for example, say the power cuts have disrupted their services.
Scores of residents and industries have resorted to buying generators to counter- load shedding.
Zimbabwe imports 40 per cent of its power needs: 100 megawatts are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 300 megawatts from Mozambique and up to 450 megawatts from South Africa.
"Customers currently in arrears and without an approved payment plan will henceforth be disconnected without further notice"
"Customers are advised that ZETDC has intensified credit control measures countrywide in an effort to maintain security of suppliers" said the parastatal on Monday.
Zesa, which is owed more than $537 million in unpaid electricity bills by domestic, industrial, mining and agricultural consumers, said it is having difficulties in paying regional power utilities for electricity
supplied.
However, several Zesa workers have been assaulted by residents for disconnecting power.
Consumers accuse Zesa of using estimated meter readings.
Zimbabwe is experiencing constant power outages due to diminished imports from regional suppliers. ZESA's capacity to generate enough electricity has fallen too because of a lack of spares, too little foreign currency to repair ageing equipment at the country's power
stations and inadequate coal supplies.
Load shedding by the power utility has severely affected various sectors of the economy. Telecommunication companies, for example, say the power cuts have disrupted their services.
Scores of residents and industries have resorted to buying generators to counter- load shedding.
Zimbabwe imports 40 per cent of its power needs: 100 megawatts are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 300 megawatts from Mozambique and up to 450 megawatts from South Africa.
Source - Byo24News
