The Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) has called on customers to upgrade their prepaid electricity meters as the software used in the meters expires next year.
Nored energy management and renewable engineer, Manfried Uvanga, during a presentation for the Oshikoto Region at Omuthiya on Friday, said the software will expire worldwide at the end of November 2024.
He said Nored is therefore aligning itself with the global effort to implement the Token Identifier (TID) rollover project. The project is aimed at ensuring that all prepaid electricity meters receive the necessary updates to remain functional beyond November 2024.
“The software update is also necessary to enable Nored prepaid customers to continue using electricity after the deadline,” Uvanga said.
He further added that this initiative will play a crucial role in tackling fraud, safeguarding Nored’s revenue, and updating customer information within their system.
Uvanga said Nored officials will conduct physical visits to households and businesses across their operational area to facilitate the updating of prepaid meters and requested full cooperation from stakeholders and customers.
“Customers whose prepaid meters are not updated will not be able to load or recharge electricity after November 2024,” Uvanga said.
Nored spokesperson Simon Lukas meanwhile took the opportunity to call upon regional councillors for support in disseminating information, educating the public, and raising awareness. He said Nored faces various community challenges, including being denied access to properties, locked gates, and residents not being present at home during visits.
Lukas noted that individuals with unauthorised bypasses resist granting access and urged people to refrain from illegal electricity connections with their neighbours.
“The official launch of the TID rollover will take place this October, with the execution of the TID rollover project scheduled to run from October 2023 to November 2024,” Lukas announced.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency