Zesa suspends disconnection pending installation of pre-paid meters

Zesa has stopped disconnecting its domestic and commercial customers pending the installation of pre-paid meters, Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma has said. Mangoma however, said this did not mean that the electricity consumers should stop paying their bills because they would still be required to pay up when the pre-paid meters are installed.

Officially launching the pre-paid meter programme in Harare yesterday, Mangoma said those disconnected for non-payment of electricity bills would be connected to the smart meters without paying a down payment or reconnection fee.

Zesa will deduct 20% on the amount paid for electricity on pre-paid meters for the consumers to settle their debts. Mangoma said the programme, targeting 600 000 registered consumers, would be completed within the next 10 months.

To date, 19 000 customers have prepaid meters. A further 19 000 are expected to be installed within the next 4 weeks.

"The installers are working furiously and will seek to get access to your properties from 6am to 7pm everyday of the week," he said.