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Politics force Escom to suspend customer verification

Political interference has forced the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) to suspend the customer verification exercise aimed at updating the power supplier’s data base.

A source from the country’s sole power supplier, speaking on condition of anonymity on Sunday, said that some politicians have taken advantage of the exercise, collecting voter registration cards claiming that they are from Escom.

Escom officials inside Kapichila power plant
Escom officials inside Kapichila power plant

Escom public relations officer George Mituka yesterday confirmed the suspension, but could not relate it to the interference of the exercise by political parties.

“We have suspended the exercise due to issues related to the exercise but which are not part of it. We will resume the exercise in a few months,” he said, refusing to shed more light arguing the information is sensitive.

He, however, cautioned Escom customers not to entertain anyone pretending to be an Escom officer asking for the power supplier’s identity if they come to their houses.

Early this year, Escom started a customer verification exercise to ascertain the number of customers it has. The power supplier said the exercise will also help the parastatal to update key customer data on the billing and prepaid systems.

Earlier, Escom instituted a survey which is aimed at determining power usage by its big customers so that it implements its load shedding programmes properly.

The utility company its encouraged customers to declare their demand capacity for this year and warned that they will be panalised if actual demand exceeds demand declared.

According to figures from Escom, Malawi has an estimated power demand of 350 megawatts (MW) but experts have said the actual demand may be above 1 000 MW.

In December, Escom power generation increased to 351 MW Due to the commissioning of Kapichira Phase II which added 64 MW to the power grid.

But the Malawi Institute of Engineers (MIE) last year said the country will enjoy a stint of adequate power supply due to the commissioning of the power plant before slipping back to a deficit.

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