ZETDC to Migrate Medium and Large Customers to Prepayment Smart Billing Platform
By Thomas Faranando
In a bid to address its financial woes, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has announced plans to migrate its medium and large power customers to a prepayment smart billing platform. This move, which is set to take effect on October 1, 2024, is aimed at improving the utility’s cash flow and reducing its debt burden.
According to a memorandum issued by the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) on September 13, 2024, ZETDC is currently owed a staggering ZW$5.7 billion by customers across all segments. This debt has severely impacted the utility’s operations, resulting in cash flow constraints that have negatively affected service delivery and posed a threat to national energy security.
To mitigate this situation, ZETDC has decided to migrate its medium and large power customers to a prepayment smart billing platform. This means that affected customers will be required to clear all their arrears and prepay their bills by September 30, 2024. The utility will communicate the implementation modalities of this exercise and has encouraged individual customers to approach their local ZETDC Account Managers for further clarification.
Commenting on the development, ZMF Provincial Chairperson Timothy Chizuzu said, “While we understand the need for ZETDC to address its financial challenges, we urge the utility to ensure a smooth transition to the prepayment smart billing platform. We also call on ZETDC to consider the impact of this move on its customers, particularly miners who are already facing numerous challenges in their operations. We will be engaging with ZETDC to ensure that our members are not unduly affected by this development.”
The ZMF has urged its members to adjust accordingly to this new development, which is expected to improve the efficiency of ZETDC’s operations and reduce its debt burden. The migration to a prepayment smart billing platform is a significant step towards ensuring the sustainability of Zimbabwe’s energy sector.
