Zesa hikes debt recovery rate for prepaid consumers

ZESA has increased to 50 percent the recovery rate for prepaid domestic customers in arrears with effect from next month to ensure that they pay up their debts within reasonable periods.

The power utility, through its subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), in a statement yesterday said it was intensifying revenue collection efforts to maintain the prevailing stable power supply.

"To that end, ZETDC would like to advise all prepaid domestic customers in arrears that the recovery rate of 40 percent will be increased to 50 percent with effect from 1st of September 2016 to ensure that they pay up their debts within reasonable periods," said the power utility.

It said all business customers on both prepaid and post-paid platforms in arrears were also being advised to clear their debts within six months with effect from September 1, 2016, for the power utility to be able to supply adequate electricity to consumers.

Zesa was urging electricity consumers to settle their bills on time to avoid disconnection.

"ZETDC urges all defaulting customers to pay their bills on time to avoid the inconvenience of disconnection. All customers who don't respond to this notice will be handed over to our lawyers for collection. The power utility is committed to maintaining the prevailing reliable power supply situation, which is only being made possible by stable local generation and prepaid power imports," it said.

In the past, some consumers have accused Zesa of inflating bills, arguing that they were based on estimates.

Last week, Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said the power company has recorded an increase in the number of defaulters resulting in the electricity consumers' debt rising to over $1 billion.

He said the rising debt was constraining the capacity of Zesa to meet critical obligations such as electricity imports, coal and spares to repair faults and statutory obligations.

One of the country's power plants, Kariba Hydropower Station, was now contributing 36 percent of total electricity into the national grid due to persistently low lake water levels at Kariba Dam.

By the end of last week, the lake water level at Kariba had dropped by 0,08 metres to 479,79 metres while during the same period last year the water level was at 480,42 metres.

As of Wednesday, the Zimbabwe Power Company indicated on its website that the country was generating 1 040 megawatts against a national demand of 2 200MW.