THE Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) is intensifying its revenue collection to recover close to $1 billion owed by consumers.
Source: ZETDC seeks to recoup $1bn debt in revenue collection – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 17, 2016
BY TARISAI MANDIZHA
The development comes after the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) rejected a request by Zesa Holdings to increase tariffs by 49%.
Zera said the average power charge should remain at 9,86 cents per kilowatt hour.
ZETDC yesterday said it was intensifying revenue collection efforts in order to maintain the prevailing stable power supplies.
“To that end, ZETDC would like to advise all customers in arrears to pay up their bills immediately or approach our customer service centre with workable payment plans to avoid the inconveniences associated with withdrawal of supplies,” the energy company said in a statement.
“ZETDC is committed to maintaining the prevailing reliable power supply situation, which is only being made possible by stable local generation and prepaid power imports. ZETDC urges all defaulting customers to pay their bills on time to avoid the inconvenience of disconnection. All defaulters who do not respond will be handed over to our lawyers for collection.”
The power utility has close to 500 000 of its customers on prepaid meters and about 100 000 still on post-paid meter system.
Some of the projects Zesa is working on include the expansion of Kariba South and Hwange power stations, installation of the Dema diesel emergency power plant and the Mutare peaking plant. There were also efforts to repower Munyati, Harare and Bulawayo power stations.
The debt has also reportedly stalled expansion projects at Kariba and Hwange Power Station, which are meant to boost power generation and reduce load-shedding.
Zimbabwe produces 1 203 megawatts (MW) of electricity against a local demand of 1 950MW.
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