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Walter Nyamukondiwa Kariba Bureau
GOVERNMENT is rolling out at least 600 000 prepaid electricity meters as it steps up the use of technology in managing demand and ensuring efficient use of power. The move is also aimed at ensuring that people pay for the electricity they use.
Speaking on a Nyaminyami FM current affairs programme, The Deep End, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi said plans are afoot to increase the number of prepaid meters to 800 000.
“Some meters are already being installed and we want people to take charge of their budgets. We have about 600 000 prepaid meters that are being installed,” he said.
“The same way we manage our airtime is the same way we want the meters to assist us in managing our electricity bills. We want the number to be more and our target to reach 800 000 prepaid meters. If you have 10 cents worth of electricity, you will have to manage what will remain switched on.”
He said people should reciprocate Government’s gesture to ensure affordable power by paying up for the electricity they use as it cost money to produce power.
Minister Chasi assured the nation that electricity tariffs would not be increased until Government is satisfied that there is no other option to guarantee supplies.
Power utility, Zesa recently approached the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) seeking a 30 percent tariff increase saying that it was critical to guarantee steady supply of electricity.
The review, argued the power utility would help to ensure repair of the transmission and distribution network while also allowing the supply of critical inputs such as coal and diesel whose prices have gone up.
Government is looking at introducing a raft of measures to ensure that power was available at the best possible tariff.
ZESA has asked for a 49 percent tariff increase, which would have taken the tariff from USc9,86/kwh to USc14,69/kwh.
Of major concern to Government, he said was the high incidents of vandalism which was hindering the smooth delivery of electricity.
To that end, the Minister said, Government was looking at introducing stiff penalties for those caught engaging in acts of vandalism.
“The best people to arrest the scourge of vandalism are the people before we even talk about the police. Currently, we are thinking of possibly using cameras at Zesa installations.
“All that needs foreign currency which we could have been using for something else. The issue of vandalism is a serious one and it is affecting out mining, farming and other industries not to mention the social impact,” said Minister Chasi.
He said, like what Government had managed to do to reduce cases of stock-theft by introducing a lengthy mandatory sentence of nine years for each charge, stiffer penalties should be introduced.
Online Reporter