Zambia's sole electricity supply corporation has launched Phase One of the prepaid billing system project to cater for 21 townships in Lusaka, Sunday Mail reported.

Managing Director of Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation ( ZESCO) Rhodnie Sisala said at the launch here Saturday that 24,000 meters will be installed before the end of June this year.

He said 30 percent of the corporation's clients nationwide will be on prepaid billing system at the end of next year while 80 percent of the clients are expected to be captured by the end of 2008.

ZESCO is owed over 210 billion kwacha (about 63.64 million U.S. dollars) in unpaid electricity bills, according to the newspaper.

He said that out of 100,000 customers, 25,000 have been disconnected in Lusaka alone while some have been re-connected illegally.

"It is our strong belief that the implementation of the prepayment project shall contribute greatly to the reduction of losses, revenue enhancement and protection and energy conservation. As the project progresses over the next one year, innovations such as scratch card vending and cellphone vending shall be implemented making the access to electricity even more convenient to customers, " said the managing director.

Source: Xinhua