Token identifier project impresses Escom
Electricity Supply Cooperation of Malawi (Escom) says it is satisfied with the progress of token identification project.
Speaking on Friday after visiting Chirimba and Lunzu townships in Blantyre, Escom revenue protection officer Douglas Kamanga said they have updated almost 20 percent of the meters nationwide.
“We have managed to reset 94 879 meters in a phase that started with Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Zomba and Blantyre. However, our target is to upgrade all 536 988 meters by June 2024,” he said.
However, Kamanga expressed worry over some individuals who want to solicit money from customers by pretending to be Escom officials.
“The main challenge we are facing is that some unscrupulous people go to our customers as Escom officials demanding money. Let me assure our customers that this project is free of charge,” he said.
Kamanga further appealed to customers to embrace the project as failure to do so will lead to failure to access Escom services.
He said: “Token identification is essential as failure to undertake it will result in Escom’s customers failling to load electricity tokens into their meters when the new international standards are effected.
“All the meters will be affected on November 24 2024 when they will not be able to accept new tokens when not upgraded.”
One of the customers in Chirimba, Cecelia Kuluwani, said the system update did not affect her in any way.
“Customers should not resist this change because it does not affect electricity units,” she said.
Escom launched the project in February 2023 to upgrade meters across the country to match the international standards.
Token identification is a secure message protocol to transfer information between points of sale and ensure that the token is not reused.
Meanwhile, Escom has embarked on door to door service to help all customers upgrade their meters.
