Implementing a pre-paid electricity system in a third world environment

The authors argue that the terminology presently used in the electricity dispensing market show a misunderstanding of the true market and a classical display of marketing myopia. Terms such as electricity dispenser and prepayment electricity metering imply that the system should be restricted to the collection of electricity charges only and that this is the first time that the supply authority can extract payment up front from the consumer. The authors seek to destroy the myopia presently in the market place and while doing so examine the difference between the implementation of an electricity dispensing system in a rural vs. an urban area, and look at the effect of a retrofit. Emphasis is placed on the market impact of the system.