NamPower revolutionises prepaid electricity management

Namibia's national power utility, NamPower, has embarked on a first-of-its-kind project to roll out home-grown prepaid billing, described by project leader Beulah Makuza as “a special kind of prepaid solution.”

This system will not be housed in a meter box but on a set of servers that run programmes that have not even been patented yet.

Through the use of enterprise resource planning software, industry-specific solutions for utilities to manage billing and the Itron MV90 data capture software for remote meter reading, NamPower has incorporated functionality like verified bills, daily billing simulation and account balance monitoring, all of which are available to everyone on the system.

Modems allow constant communication with a central hub where controllers will authorise any punitive actions. Warnings of account depletion and imminent disconnection are automatically distributed through e-mail or SMS, Makuza explained.



Next-generation tech

She said the advantages of their prepaid innovation include pay-as-you-go functionality, prevention of the accumulation of debt, modernisation of infrastructure and reduced operating costs, which can eventually be passed on back to consumers.

Already in Namibia, it is common for small power users, up to 120 amps, to buy units with tokens from vendors or through their cellphones.

NamPower’s innovation is on trial in Brakwater, where a specific 16 kVa supply point has been used to monitor and manipulate distribution since April last year.

“We have had a good assessment of performance, small issues have been identified and rectified,” Makuza said.

Large power users in the area already have smart meters, particularly NamPower clients, and are already integrated into the SAP payment processing solution for easier meter data management.

The current version of the system does not allow for net-metering clients, so they are not included in the trial. Customers with embedded generation capacity are also not yet considered in the development pipeline.



Game-changing

NamPower’s ambitious intention is to put the whole country on prepaid electricity by migrating post-paid clients after concluding new prepaid agreements and entering repayment agreements for outstanding debt.

The internet-based customer portal will allow payments from clients valued at up to N$5 million directly. The technology will eliminate tokens by allowing customers to pre-load money onto a wallet, the contents of which can be used to buy credit for electricity provision.

Since an initial meeting with the Electricity Control Board in 2019, NamPower has spent about N$12 million developing unique component designs, change management for network stability concerns, and applying changes to customise implementation for unique customers.

Furthermore, the power utility has conducted roadshows and meetings to sensitise clients, record concerns and study necessary connection considerations.

Some innovations, like breaker protection against vandalism through immediate reports whenever the door is opened, are already patented.

“We will monitor everything,” said Makuza.