Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
ZESA will, starting from June 1, roll out a month-long pilot project for the much-awaited pre-paid meter system.

The power utility has since signed contracts with four companies to install the 24 000 test meters for the pilot project.

If the project succeeds, Zesa says the selected suppliers will bring more meters for the official introduction of the system in July.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company managing director Engineer Julian Chinembiri yesterday confirmed the development.

“The four suppliers will firstly supply 6 000 meters each which will be used for the pilot project that starts on June 1 to the end of June. If we are satisfied with the meters, then the much-awaited pre-paid system will start on July 1.

“More meters will be brought for installation,” said Eng Chinembiri.
The development comes at a time consumers are up in arms with the power utility’s billing system based on estimates.

Harare Residents’ Trust spokesperson Mr Precious Shumba said the billing system at Zesa was chaotic.
“Currently Zesa’s billing system is chaotic and does not inspire confidence in the consumers’ minds.

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“If one visits most households in Harare, it will be discovered that some figures on the bills will be higher that the numbers on the meters. They are just estimates used in an environment where load-shedding reigns supreme,” said Mr Shumba.
Even if the pre-paid system were to be introduced, Mr Shumba said, the tariffs were still very high and that it would not solve the real problem.

“The tariffs are not consistent with the consumers’ earnings. Even if the pre-paid system is introduced, part of the money paid will be diverted to settling the previous huge debts that emanated from estimates.

“Such debts should be written off,” he said.
Meanwhile, the ZETDC has published the 2012 winter load-shedding schedules for Harare, Chitungwiza, Ruwa, Marondera, Bindura, Chinhoyi and Kadoma.

The programme, ZETDC says, was a measure to manage power shortfalls due to power generation and importation constraints.
“ZETDC is experiencing a power shortfall due to generation constraints at Hwange Power Station, the low dispatch at the small thermal power stations and power import constraints.

“The power shortfall is being managed through load-shedding in order to balance power supply and demand,” read the ZETDC statement.