The last ZIMSTAT household survey painted a grim picture of urban living in Zimbabwe. With about half of urban dwellers renting, shared electricity meters have become a common headache. In high-density areas, it’s not unusual to find multiple family units sharing a single ZESA meter. The landlord, often residing in the main house, typically manages the prepaid meter, while tenants occupy various parts of the property.

This setup leads to frequent disputes, especially towards month-end when electricity units run low. There’s no easy way to determine each household’s consumption, and sometimes, the person responsible for buying tokens might spend less than agreed. If you’re caught in this predicament, don’t despair. We’ve got two clever tricks to help you tackle this perennial shared meter problem.

The Stepped Tariff Conundrum

Some years ago, ZESA introduced a brilliant solution to address multiple issues: implementing viable tariffs, reducing financial losses, and promoting wise electricity use. Enter the stepped tariff system – a sliding scale where the cost of electricity increases with consumption within a given month. The tariff resets at the beginning of each month, leading to the misconception that ZESA tokens are only cheap on the first day.

This ingenious plan has largely succeeded. Zimbabweans have become more energy-conscious, abandoning wasteful practices like leaving geysers and pool pumps running constantly. Even energy-guzzling incandescent bulbs are now a rare sight. Why? Because a single 100-watt bulb can consume 2.4 units of electricity daily, costing about US$12 per month to run. With five such bulbs, you are looking at a US$80 expense. No wonder tempers flare when it is time to settle the ZESA bill!

Trick 1: Catching the Token Trickster

The first issue with shared meters is the potential deceit by the person buying tokens. They might pocket some of the money, claiming ignorance about the number of units purchased. Here is how to verify the units bought:

1. Using the meter itself
2. Using ZESA’s self-service website

How to check units using the meter:

This method requires entering a code into the meter. The exact code depends on your meter type, and you will need physical access to the meter.

For the common Inhemeter New Version:

1. Press enter multiple times to view current and past consumption.
2. Or enter 1591 and press enter to see the current month’s consumption.
3. Calculate the units purchased and recharged.

How to check units using ZESA’s self-service:

If you have internet access, follow these steps:

1. Find out your meter number.
2. Visit the ZESA self-service portal.
3. Enter your meter number and click “View Token”.
4. You will see details of the last five tokens purchased.

Note: For ZiG the portal shows amounts in ZiG, while USD meters are displayed in US dollars. Both amounts will appear as $10 for example so take note of the currency.

Trick 2: Dealing with Uneven Usage

Households differ in their electricity consumption. Some may have numerous power-hungry appliances, while others might only use basic entertainment systems. Most landlords negotiate a flat rate from each tenant, typically US$10-20 per family. Conflicts arise when units run out before month-end, and the landlord seeks additional payments.

There are two solutions to address this issue, both requiring an investment:

1. Generic Split Meters

How it works:

• Install a split meter for each tenant/household.
• Connect each tenant’s electrical supply to their respective split meter.
• The landlord allocates purchased units equally among tenants through these split meters.
• Each split meter displays and controls the units available to that particular tenant.
• Tenants buy additional units from the landlord when they run out.

Pros:

• Fair distribution of electricity units
• Tenants can monitor their own usage
• Reduces disputes over uneven consumption
• Relatively affordable (around US$80 per unit)
• Allows for individual top-ups
• Energy-conscious tenants can save unused units

Cons:

• Requires initial investment and professional installation
• Complex setup may confuse some tenants
• Not officially recognized by ZESA
• All tenants lose power if the main meter runs out
• Potential for tampering
• May require regular maintenance

2. Separate ZESA Meters

How it works:

• Apply to ZESA for additional meters (one per household/rental unit)
• ZESA assesses the property and installs separate meters for each unit
• Each household gets a unique meter number and purchases electricity directly from ZESA

Pros:

• Complete independence for each household
• Direct relationship with ZESA for each tenant
• Eliminates landlord-tenant disputes over electricity
• Each household benefits from the stepped tariff structure
• No risk of power loss due to other tenants’ consumption
• Increases property value
• Simplifies billing for landlords

Cons:

• Higher initial cost (US$90-US$300 per meter plus installation)
• Requires ZESA approval and may take time
• Not feasible for all property layouts
• Installation can be disruptive
• Landlords lose potential income from managing electricity payments
• Each household must manage its own electricity purchases

Conclusion

While shared ZESA meters can be a source of conflict, these two solutions can help resolve disputes and ensure fair usage. The choice between generic split meters and separate ZESA meters depends on factors like budget, property layout, tenant preferences, and long-term plans for the property. Whichever option you choose, you are now equipped to tackle the shared meter challenge. Remember, in the world of shared electricity, knowledge is not just power – it is also savings and peace of mind!

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