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Pre-paid meter system welcome

Opinion & Analysis
At long last Zesa Holdings has begun rolling out its much publicised pre-paid meter system. Under the scheme, Zesa plans to install 600 000 prepaid meters countrywide as part of the first phase, effectively disposing of its conventional shambolic billing system which caused it to accumulate over $600 million in unpaid bills. The new system […]

At long last Zesa Holdings has begun rolling out its much publicised pre-paid meter system.

Under the scheme, Zesa plans to install 600 000 prepaid meters countrywide as part of the first phase, effectively disposing of its conventional shambolic billing system which caused it to accumulate over $600 million in unpaid bills.

The new system provides a win-win situation for the consumer and the power utility.

Through the new pre-paid meter system, consumers will gain complete control of their electricity bills. Likewise, Zesa will not have to resort to the unorthodox means of disconnecting non-paying consumers to force them to settle their debts.

Zesa’s billing system is based on estimates, a situation that has seen consumers refusing to settle their bills.

Energy and Power Development minister Elton Mangoma has repeatedly described Zesa’s billing system as “shambolic and beyond repair”.

Consumers had long lost faith in the billing system that had also given an opportunity to some corrupt Zesa employees to fleece consumers.

For the consumer, the prepaid meters could not have come at a better time given the intermittent power cuts that have characterised their daily lives.

Given the new system, they will not be forced to pay for power they have not consumed.

This will hopefully bring to the end the acrimonious relationship between the power utility and consumers over the shambolic billing system and there is no more room for estimates.

Given the hardships consumers have been going through in trying to settle the debts, this initiative should go a long way in ending their plight.

It is heartening to note that the Energy ministry has found a solution to collecting the outstanding bills by incorporating them under the pre-paid meter scheme without Zesa demanding a reconnection fee from defaulting customers.

Those disconnected for non-payment would be connected to prepaid meters without paying a reconnection fee, while 20% of the money used to buy electricity would be channelled towards the reduction of the outstanding debt.

It is our hope that Zesa has now put behind the troubles of nonpayment by consumers, the power utility can fully concentrate on the development of new energy sources to ensure adequate supplies for the country’s needs.

Zesa must put its energies towards the construction of a 30MW hydro plant at Gairezi, expansion of Hwange, Kariba South, Lupane methane gas and Batoka Gorge in the long-term.

The country is endowed with huge potential sources of energy, including solar, that are waiting to be harnessed.

Energy is an important enabler for economic development apart from it being a symbol of civilisation and Zesa should do all it can to ensure adequate power supply.

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