INTRODUCING SMART METERS

Water Utilities Corporation owed over P850 million

Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) is currently undertaking a pilot project to determine effectiveness of the smart metering system. WUC spokesperson Beauty Mokoba says the first phase is being test driven at Nanogang Community Junior Secondary School in Gaborone.

If all goes well, they will then roll out the technologically advanced system to other parts of the city. With the new system in place, both WUC and clients will be able to monitor water bills from the comfort of their offices or homes.

“We are trying to do away with high billing issues that have seen many people complain in the past. With smart metering, we will be able to take readings without being forced to go from household to household, as is the case now.” She said that WUC officers often come across difficulties such as lack of access to homes, which forces them to return without the readings. “But with the new system, clients will also be able to read their meters resulting in them being continuously informed and updated with how much they owe,” she said.

Mokoba also added that the system would see clients able to notice at their earliest convenience, any unusual increase in their bills. Sometimes, she said, there are hidden leaks that go unnoticed, leading to unexpected high bills that leave majority complaining and disgruntled. She said this was mostly the case with paved homes.

Huge amounts of water are continuously spilled without notice only for a client to be shocked when slapped with their monthly bill. Some Batswana were recently slapped with bills that reached as high as P100 000 or more per household. They dismissed the bills as totally absurd and accused WUC of being a rip off. Meanwhile, Mokoba revealed that the corporation is owed over P850 million by consumers.“The debt increased during the ongoing State of Emergency (SOE). Because of Corona virus we were forced to temporarily suspend the shutting down of taps,” Mokoba said. She indicated that they also re-connected taps which had been shut down for easy water flow but that sadly, some clients are now taking advantage of the situation by not paying bills. Though there is nothing much they can do to force people into paying during the SOE, she advised Batswana to take responsibility and pay bills.She shared that the Covid-19 crisis has left their hands tied with very limited options, as people need sufficient water supply to wash away the virus and hopefully reduce potential spread.“Owing the cooperation such huge amounts disrupts our day to day operations, for us to install taps around the country there is need for money, same applies to maintaining water pipes. When the cooperation becomes broke, it will also impact on the smooth flow and services given to the community,” she advised.

The debt increased during the ongoing State of Emergency (SOE). Because of Corona virus we were forced to temporarily suspend the shutting down of taps.