The soon to be launched smart water prepaid metering programme is set to take about three years to be completed. The first 100 have already been installed in some parts of Gaborone. Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) CEO, Gaselemogwe Senai, told journalists this week that no debt will be written off and they will agree on a repayment strategy which includes paying 75% of the debt and settling the remaining 25% through installments. He added that if debtors don’t agree to pay the outstanding bill, the Corporation will move on to the next customer.
WUC started installing some smart meters in Gaborone on July 26, 2024 and intends to install 35, 000 in Gaborone only and 13, 000 in the Mogoditshane-Gabane cluster. He said as they move on they will also install another 13, 000 meters in the Ramotswa-Tlokweng-Otse cluster. The smart water prepaid metering programme will take about three years to be completed in the country. “The intention is to complete all these clusters by January next year,” he emphasised. Senai added that smart meters compared to the old meter are expensive because of associated costs. He however clarified that Batswana will bear no costs when it comes to installation and the meters. Senai also highlighted that the introduction of smart water meters will eliminate issues of non-revenue water, which is water which is lost before reaching the customer. Batswana have for so many years many been complaining about debts created by high water bills.
