Development of prepayment electricity metering systems for use in first and third world environments

Over the past decade local authorities, municipalities and electricity supply authorities have been faced with unmanageable debt caused by the nonpayment of electricity accounts. In addition the problem of revenue collection in the future has been compounded by ESKOM, municipalities and the South African Government's commitment to electrify three million homes within five years. The author highlights some of the aspects that were considered in the development of a prepayment system which will help to depoliticise the supply of electricity such that energy does not become a pawn in the ideological struggles which the country is bound to face in the years ahead.<>