Perception of the use of pre-paid electricity meters in Chidzidzi, Mutoko, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Since the era of the economic adjustment program, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) Holdings has been faced with an increasing problem of non-payment of electricity service charges, especially in the medium-to low-income households. In the early 2000s, the power utility company resorted to disconnections and the removal of post-paid electricity meters for non-paying households. Many customers accused ZESA Holdings of overcharging them on their monthly bills through the post-payment plan. As a way of recovering costs from non-paying households, ZESA Holdings resorted to the deployment of prepaid electricity meters, which automatically disconnect when households pre-coded electricity tokens are used up. The objective of this study is to understand consumers' perception of the use of prepaid electricity meters versus the post-paid system, in Chidzidzi, Mutoko, Zimbabwe. Lessons learnt from this study are useful for informing policy in the country and other developing countries.