Online Reporter
Business Reporter
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has recouped 20 per cent of legacy debt owed by medium-to-large scale consumers, following the integration of outstanding arrears into a new, high-tech smart metering platform.
Engineer Cletus Nyachowe, ZESA Holdings’ acting chief executive, confirmed to Zimpapers Business Hub last week that the initiative has already reduced a massive US$328 million debt pile.
ZETDC is a subsidiary of ZESA, responsible for the transmission and distribution of power.
The system functions by automatically recovering a predetermined portion of legacy arrears whenever a customer makes a pre-payment for their electricity consumption. Eng Nyachowe noted that the automated recovery platform has proven highly effective in stabilising the utility’s revenue collection.
“Smart metering will plug revenue leakages as the meters provide real-time alerts to utility back-offices regarding faults and any fraudulent incidents, such as tampering or bypassing,” Eng Nyachowe said.
“This new technology also empowers our medium and large customers, allowing them to manage their electricity costs more effectively using the detailed load profile data these meters provide.”
