Conversion to prepayment metering in Parow

Parow Municipality in South Africa is converting all of its approximately 16,000 single-phase domestic clients to prepayment metering over the next few years. The authors discuss the rationale behind this project, and report on client perceptions and initial indications of changes in energy usage patterns. This project originated in the municipality´s need to achieve two objectives, firstly, to find an acceptable way to ease the burden of the poorer people by reducing the cost of electricity at lower consumption levels, and secondly to provide these clients with the means to more effectively exercise control over their energy usage, and so avoid the situation of clients going into arrears. It is concluded that both of Parow´s goals are being met at a cost which can be borne with reasonable comfort. This project is generating a positive response so strong that it is extremely difficult to satisfy the impatient demands for the new meter