All customers on Kenya Power & Lighting Company’s (KPLC) prepaid meters (token meters) will be required to update their meters to enable them continue enjoying access to electricity.
The update is part of an ongoing global exercise that targets all prepaid meters that use the Standard Transfer Specification (STS), a universal method to transfer tokens to prepaid meters while ensuring the security of generated tokens.
Speaking in Nairobi, Kenya Power Managing Director (MD) & CEO Dr. (Eng.) Joseph Siror announced that the Company has set the end of August 2024 as the deadline for the update of all prepaid meters within the network in the country.
He disclosed that a total of 7.4 million prepaid meters are targeted for this exercise, cautioning that all prepaid meters that will not have been updated by the deadline date will stop accepting the tokens henceforth.
“Because of this, we have put in place elaborate measures to ensure that all our customers are fully empowered and assisted in updating their meters to continue enjoying our services,” assured Dr Siror.
To further ensure the success of this exercise, the CEO reckoned that the Company has launched a media campaign dubbed ‘Update Token Meter Yako’ targeting all its prepaid customers.
According to the MD, the campaign will provide all the necessary information about the exercise to the targeted customers to enable them to update their meters as soon as they receive the prompt message from Kenya Power.
“Customers will receive two codes from Kenya Power when they purchase tokens. They will be required to key in the codes to their meter following the steps indicated in the SMS before loading the new token,” stated Dr Siror, adding that the Company, in other instances, will send the codes directly to the customers who have not purchased tokens as a notification to update their meters, a process he described as simple and free.
He at the same time re-assured customers that the update will not impact existing tokens that are already loaded into the meter.
However, the CEO advised customers to load any previously purchased tokens before uploading their meters as failure to do so will render them invalid.
Apart from the media campaign, Dr. Siror mentioned that the Company will hold engagements with official stakeholders and consumer organizations to inform them of the exercise and ensure all prepaid meters are updated.
The Company will also closely monitor the exercise to identify and address emerging issues.
By Michael Omondi
