07 Aug 2024

In an endeavour to improve efficiency, water security and do away with challenges of unpaid, unaccounted for and high water bills, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has commenced roll out of Smart Prepaid Water Metering Solution.

The innovative aims to improve water management and empower customers with greater control over water usage as it will require customers to first recharge their accounts to enjoy water services.

The first phase of the project roll out, which covers Gaborone and its periphery, commenced July 2024 and is expected to complete in January 2025 at a cost P500 million.

Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Honorable Dr Kefentse Mzwinila said in a media briefing on yesterday in Gaborone that WUC was undergoing transformation with the view to be at the forefront in Southern Africa in terms of service delivery.

He said the ongoing installation of prepaid smart meters in greater Gaborone was part of the transformation process, adding that the project of replacing conventional meters with prepaid smart would be officially launched by His Excellency President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi at a date yet to be announced.

Giving an update on the prepaid smart meters installation, WUC chief executive officer, Mr Gaselemogwe Senai said the first smart meter was installed in Gaborone on July 26, and to date 180 prepaid smart meters were installed in Gaborone. 

In total, Mr Senai said the first phase of the project would run for six months and would see a total of 65 000 prepaid smart meters installed.

He said 35 000 prepaid smart meters would be installed in Gaborone, 13 000 in Mogobane/Gabane, while Ramotswa/Otse/Tlokweng would get another 13 000. 

“By January 2025, the first phase of prepaid meters installation which covers greater Gaborone will be complete,” he said.

Mr Senai said the prepaid smart meters installation was expected to have covered the whole country in three years, with a total of 555 000 prepaid smart meters installed.

He said the introduction of pre-paid smart meters would eventually phasee out conventional meters in use. He said a conventional meter was installed at a cost of about P600 compared to a pre-paid smart meter which would cost over P4 000. 

Mr Senai said all the costs of buying and installing the prepaid smart meters would be incurred by the corporation.

He said the prepaid smart meter was installed with a battery, communication and data management system which linked with the billing system. 

He said the customer would also be able to link the prepaid smart meter with their mobile phones for ease of monitoring and recharging.

Elaborating on the eligibility criteria, Mr Senai said delinquent customers, being those with high and long outstanding water bills, were requested to first agree to settle 75 per cent of their outstanding bills and the remaining 25 per cent to be settled by instalments before one could be considered to be connected a prepaid smart meter.

In a media release dated July 23, announcing Smart Prepaid Water Metering Solution roll out, WUC said that completion of the first phase of the project, will be followed by a twelve months defects liability period.

It says the project targets both domestic and business consumer accounts within Gaborone and the Greater Gaborone area. 

The corporation has contracted three suppliers to execute the projects across the designated areas, being Hitong Holdings Limited trading as Leeroy Systems, All Green Holdings Limited and Heinsite Limited. Ends