ZETDC rolls out pre-paid, smart meters in Byo

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC)  is rolling out pre-paid meters  as well as smart meters to  more than 36 000 customers in Bulawayo as it seeks to raise more revenue and  also promote the efficient use of electricity.

ZETDC Western region manager, Lloyd Jaji, said the area has a customer base of about 200 000 customers.

“ZETDC is confident that no point will be left behind as it has since procured the balance of prepaid meters and this has been made possible by the recapitalisation of the business,” Jaji said.

He added: “Roll out has already begun starting with residential areas, farming points and small enterprises. Western Region has almost 200,000 customer base with a total of 135 000 installed prepaid meters thus giving us a balance of 40 363 points to be installed.”

Jaji said 800  smart meters will also be installed to customers and companies in good standing.

“The region will also witness installation of 800 smart meters to high priority customers and those companies with  good debt history. The region will also be rolling out prepaid meters to over 36,000 customers who for a long time have been on looped connections (load limiters). These load limiters customers dates back to the colonial era,” he said.

New wiring will be conducted for some houses in old suburbs in Bulawayo such as Makokoba, Mzilikazi, Iminyela, Mabutweni where people are using the load limit system popularly known as fixed payment system.

He said that the meters have new-user friendly features like bluetooth at a time when the utility is fostering digital transformation for improved client convenience.

Jaji said the remaining number, although smaller compared to the installed numbers, generate a greater portion of the revenue streams as this group of clients consist of maximum demand clients and commercial points.”