News / National
Zesa rolls out pre-paid electricity meters
16 May 2012 at 04:59hrs | Views
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) will, starting from June 1, roll out a month-long pilot project for the much-awaited pre-paid meter system.
The power utility has since signed contracts with four companies to install the 24 000 test meters for the pilot project.
If the project succeeds, Zesa says the selected suppliers will bring more meters for the official introduction of the system in July.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company managing director Engineer Julian Chinembiri yesterday confirmed the development.
"The four suppliers will firstly supply 6 000 meters each which will be used for the pilot project that starts on June 1 to the end of June. If we are satisfied with the meters, then the much-awaited pre-paid system will start on July 1.
"More meters will be brought for installation," said Eng Chinembiri.
The development comes at a time consumers are up in arms with the power utility's billing system based on estimates.
The programme, ZETDC says, was a measure to manage power shortfalls due to power generation and importation constraints.
"ZETDC is experiencing a power shortfall due to generation constraints at Hwange Power Station, the low dispatch at the small thermal power stations and power import constraints.
"The power shortfall is being managed through load-shedding in order to balance power supply and demand," read the ZETDC statement.
The power utility has since signed contracts with four companies to install the 24 000 test meters for the pilot project.
If the project succeeds, Zesa says the selected suppliers will bring more meters for the official introduction of the system in July.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company managing director Engineer Julian Chinembiri yesterday confirmed the development.
"The four suppliers will firstly supply 6 000 meters each which will be used for the pilot project that starts on June 1 to the end of June. If we are satisfied with the meters, then the much-awaited pre-paid system will start on July 1.
The development comes at a time consumers are up in arms with the power utility's billing system based on estimates.
The programme, ZETDC says, was a measure to manage power shortfalls due to power generation and importation constraints.
"ZETDC is experiencing a power shortfall due to generation constraints at Hwange Power Station, the low dispatch at the small thermal power stations and power import constraints.
"The power shortfall is being managed through load-shedding in order to balance power supply and demand," read the ZETDC statement.
Source - Byo24News
