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Smart Meter rollout in Britain

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Millions of energy users in Britain are about to get a new metering system – smart meters – technology which has been rejected by Germany and found not to be cost-effective by other nations.

Smart meters send information on energy usage directly back to the energy supplier, which eliminates the need for meter readings.

Crucially, they also let the customer know just how much electricity or gas they are consuming during the day. This revelation is expected to change our behaviour, so that we switch off lights, turn down heating, and generally use less energy.

The so-called big six energy suppliers are hoping to introduce a new kind of pricing to go with smart meters, a system used elsewhere in the world called time of use tariffs.

Smart meters are not compulsory, although the publicity campaigns do not give that fact much prominence. The energy companies are footing the bill for installing smart meters, but they acknowledge they will pass costs on to the customer…

Full Article: Will smart meters be worth the money? – BBC News

Finance scheme for prepaid meters

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The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Ecobank Nigeria Limited have partnered to deploy prepaid meters to electricity consumers in Nigeria. The meter rollout is being facilitated by the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme.

According to EEDC, they are offering two types of meters including: a single phase smart meter with a split unit, which goes for N39,375 ($198) and a 3-phase smart meter with a split unit, which goes for N68,901 ($346). These costs are inclusive of installation cost.

“The cost of acquiring the meter and meter box (N30,100 for single phase and N55,720 ($280) for 3-Phase) will be paid back to the customers in the form of energy recharge, over a period of 36 months, at 12% interest rate.

“However, customers are expected to vend at least once a month, while energy (pay back) will be credited monthly,” the distribution company concluded.

After adequate assessment of the customer’s premises, the engineers will determine the appropriate meter that will be installed for the customers, the company added…..

Full Article: Nigeria launches finance scheme for prepaid meters | ESI-Africa.com

Free State Schools get pre-paid electricity meters

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The Free State provincial government has installed pre-paid electricity meters at 35 schools in the Mangaung Metro as part of a pilot project ahead of a total roll-out throughout the province.

The purpose is to cut back on the overall school electricity debt for the metro, which is standing at R30 million.

The metro also plans to roll out pre-paid meters to all government departments and entities.

Spokesperson for the Free State Education Department Howard Ndaba says this will encourage responsible use of electricity by schools.

“You’ll know that most of our schools owe municipalities in electricity bills. So what we are trying to encourage from the schools is to make sure that there’s frugal or prudent use of electricity to make sure that we save electricity but also to assist municipalities to have proper revenue collections,” says Ndaba.

Schools are some of the biggest culprits in exorbitant electricity bills.

Last year, the Matjhabeng Municipality cut the power to 72 public schools for non-payment of bills.

“Normally schools receive an allocation every quarter so we’ll make sure that every quarter they get their allocation so that they can service their electricity. Then we’ll monitor the usage and service of that electricity. What we are trying to encourage from schools is to make sure that there’s prudent use of electricity but also to assist municipalities to have proper revenue collection,” says Ndaba.

Currently it is the responsibility of the provincial Department of Public Works to pay municipalities for services at all government buildings, but with the pre-paid system everyone will shoulder the responsibility of keeping their lights on.

Source: SABC News – Pre-paid electricity metres installed in FS schools:Wednesday 9 March 2016