18 Jan 2013

Unless people use electricity sparingly, they will continue to experience high cost of electricity even after the installation of prepaid smart metres, Botswana Power Corporation's (BPC) official, Mr Mbaki Khwaraye has said.

Briefing residents of Tati Town/White City and Botsalano wards in Francistown West constituency during kgotla meetings addressed by MP Tshelang Masisi, Mr Khwaraye said although the public had been decrying high bills, which were blamed on the corporation, electricity cost would continue to be high if they did not reduce electrical appliances that used high voltage of power.  

The BPC official however explained that following the numerous complaints about the billing system and high speeding metres, a decision was reached to introduce the pre-paid system.

Mr Makhwaraye said they had to assure the public by doing a research and tested the metres in the presence of the customers.

The findings showed that people used many appliances which used high volumes of power at once. Such included geysers of 150 and 200 litres, which consumed more power.

Mr Khwaraye explained that the new metres were of high technology and it would be easy for them to control power during high peak times and during the times of shortage of electricity.

He said instead of load shedding for the whole town, they would be able to switch off certain appliances from their offices, particularly air conditioners and geysers.

One of the residents, Ms Mmasenyana Ramotswere said BPC should have consulted them prior to making changes, so that they could understand the changes.  She also inquired about the separation of metres in situations where the home owner had tenants.

Area MP, Mr Masisi inquired about the refund for people who were asked to pay for the installation of a transformer at the time of requesting for installing electricity in their homes and the connection fees charged. He also appealed to BPC to  assess the situation of a family at the time of making changes in their homes.

He noted that some families were headed by old age pensioners who survived on pension, hence at the time of the switch off, they might not have money to purchase their first unit for prepaid. ENDS