Zesa Holdings rolls out pre-paid meters

Zesa Holdings will this week officially roll out the pre-paid meter programme that is expected to give total control over consumption to its customers and boost the utility's finances.

The power utility recently completed its pilot project that saw over 4 000 meters being installed at households in Harare and Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company managing director Engineer Julian Chinembiri confirmed the development last week on Friday.
"We are officially launching the programme next week and after the launch the meters that we have would be installed at the Zambezi flats in Mbare, Borrowdale and Highfield.
"The process will then move to other residential areas and we are beginning mainly with high density suburbs.
"We were satisfied with the meters we received for the pilot project and now we can safely carry out the project to benefit many residents," he said.
Eng Chinembiri said the power utility needed US$60 million to install the prepaid meters countrywide.
He said Solhart had delivered the meters it was contracted to supply while the other three companies ZTE, Finmark and Nyamazela of South Africa would deliver them next week.
"The consignment from Solahrt, which is more than 6 000 meters was delivered recently and this is in addition to the more than 24 000 meters in store These would be installed on registered properties only," he said.
There are 600 000 registered properties in the Zesa database.
"We are going to continue buying the meters for us to supply residents because this is of benefit to us," he said.
Eng Chinembiri said the public would be informed of the other areas where the meters for the pilot project will be installed.
Eng Chinembiri said prepaid meters would tremendously improve the power utility's billing system
"We hope to solve the issue of consumption and bills," he said.
Zesa's billing system is based on estimates, a situation that has seen consumers refusing to settle some of the bills.
The situation has also seen the power utility failing to recoup hundreds of millions of United States dollars owed by consumers.
The consumers argue that Zesa has a poor debt management system.Zesa is owed about US$550 million.
There is no clear debt-collection strategy at Zesa apart from the unpopular power disconnections.
The poor debt-management system has also seen Zesa struggling to settle foreign debts.
Meanwhile, Eng Chinembiri said Zesa Holdings' debt to Hydro Cahora Bassa of Mozambique was now at US$15 million.The power utility owed Hydro Cahora Bassa US$76 million and has been struggling to clear off the debt.
"We are trying all we can by paying US$1 million per week and we hope to clear the debt by the end of the year. We hope this will increase our power," he said.