Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited Token Identifier (TID) Project Manager Douglas Kamanga says the second phase of the meter upgrading exercise has started on a good note.
He said this in an interview while giving an update on the project which involves upgrading all electricity prepaid meters in the country.
Kamanga said customers’ electricity meters in six more districts have successfully been rolled over in just a month after starting the second phase of the TID Project.
“Having concluded the first phase of the TID Project on November 24 2023 which targeted all cities, we quickly embarked on the second phase. As at December 22 2023, we had successfully carried out the meter upgrade in Mzimba in the Northern Region, Dowa and Ntchisi in the Central Region, Chikwawa and Nsanje in the Southern Region, and most parts of Mangochi in the Eastern Region,” he said.
Kamanga added that ESCOM has cumulatively upgraded 244,506 meters across the country out of the 617,440 targeted in the project.
“This encompasses 44,650 in the Northern Region, 91,416 in the Central Region, 85,997 in the Southern Region and 22,443 in the Eastern Region,” he said.
Kamanga hailed customers for making the project a success, saying they positively embraced it thereby allowing ESCOM personnel to seamlessly carry out the exercise.
Kamanga said in the month of January 2024, the TID Project will carry out the meter upgrade exercise in Nkhata Bay and Rumphi in the Northern Region, Kasungu and Nkhotakota in the Central Region, Machinga in the Eastern Region, and Mwanza, Neno and Thyolo in the Southern Region.
“We are left with five months to complete the project; this is why we will be expediting upgrading meters and thoroughly ensure no meter is left out,” he said.
Kamanga reminded customers and the public that it is their responsibility to ensure that their meters are upgraded once the project moves to their respective areas.
“Let us all remember that all meters that will not be upgraded will not accept electricity units after November 24 this year. Therefore, customers who feel their meters have not been upgraded in the areas which have been covered should quickly call us,” he said.
On November 24 2023, ESCOM Limited Chief Operations Officer Mr Maxwell Mulimakwenda told journalists in Lilongwe that the project is expected to be completed by the end of June 2024, four months ahead of the TID cut-off point which is 24th November 2024.
Customers can contact ESCOM Limited for more information on the project using the details indicated below.
| Dedicated helplines for TID Project: | |||
| Southern Region: | Central Region: | Northern Region: | Eastern Region: |
| 0889764780 | 0885730425 | 0884932455 | 0889641153 |