Zesa ups efforts to curb power theft

Peter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
Zesa Holdings is conducting countrywide door to door pre-paid meter inspections to curb power thefts.
The power utility is reportedly losing an estimated US$10 million monthly to energy theft.
At least 277 people have been arrested so far for power theft.
In an interview with The Herald recently, Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira confirmed the inspections were underway.

“These are ongoing random inspections and as Zesa we have built-in mechanisms developed to protect against energy theft,” said Mr Gwasira.
He said some of the mechanisms include the business survey reports which help identify metres that are either not purchasing power or have low purchases.

“When these are identified, teams are deployed to investigate and remedial action is taken,” Mr Gwasira said.
He said Zesa’s Revenue and Protection Unit monitors the usage and those stealing energy are easily detected.

Mr Gwasira said no revenue was ever lost by tampering with meters as there is a formulation in place to recover whatever is deemed owing.
“Customers found in breach are immediately disconnected to protect the utility. To date 277 people have been arrested and jailed for theft of power,” he said.

Zesa Holdings will fork out more than US$100 million to install 300 000 smart units as it moves to dump the two-year-old prepaid meter system.