Prepaid Meters at Risk: ZESA’s Dire Warning
Consumers across Zimbabwe are facing a critical deadline as ZESA subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), has issued a stern warning that prepaid electricity meters will stop working imminently unless they are upgraded. The company has set November 24, 2024, as the date when the current generation of prepaid meters will cease to function, leaving those who fail to upgrade in the dark.
Upgrade Timely or Face Power Cuts, ZETDC Urges
ZETDC acting public relations officer Ms Alaina Suliwa emphasised the urgency of the situation, telling the Sunday Mail,
“ZETDC embarked on the prepaid meter upgrade exercise on November 17, 2023, starting with a pilot of a few selected areas across all regions.”
A significant 85% of meters in these areas have already been successfully upgraded, but the remaining 15% non-TID compliant meters will be replaced at no cost to consumers.
Token Identifier System and the Deadline
The current prepaid meters use a Token Identifier (TID) system to authenticate recharge tokens. After November 24, 2024, this system’s memory will lapse, rendering prepaid meters unable to accept recharge tokens.
Failure to upgrade by this date will result in a disruption of power supply. Ms Suliwa highlighted,
“Upgrading ensures uninterrupted recharging service to our valued customers and also comes with enhanced security features for the meter.”
National Rollout and Compliance with International Standards
ZETDC commercial director Engineer Ralph Katsande reassured customers that the upgrade programme, which began with selected areas, is now officially being rolled out nationally.
This effort is in compliance with the Standard Transfer Specification (STS) system for prepaid meters, an internationally recognised standard.
Engineer Katsande explained,
“The desire for us to do more is a direct result of decades of trust our customers have in us to protect what they value most.”
Act Now to Prevent Power Outages
With the looming deadline, consumers are urged to take immediate action to upgrade their prepaid meters. Failure to do so risks power cuts, potentially disrupting homes and businesses across the nation.
The STS system ensures interoperability and enhanced security, making the upgrade a crucial step to maintaining a reliable and secure electricity supply.
In the words of Ms Suliwa,
“Any prepaid meter that is not upgraded by this date will not accept tokens. Hence, upgrading ensures uninterrupted recharging service to our valued customers and also comes with enhanced security features for the meter.”
The clock is ticking, and the time to act is now to prevent being left in the dark come November 24, 2024.
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