Electricity distributor Umeme has expressed satisfaction with the move to upgrade their Yaka meters.
This follows a call by the Ministry of Energy earlier this year to have all Yaka meters upgraded to make them digitally compliant to receive tokens so users can get electricity. The move was intended to extend the lifeline of the meters to 2045.
According to Umeme, over 2.2 million meters have been upgraded. The upgrade, which was mandatory for all 2.15 million Yaka users, was necessary to maintain the meters’ functionality and transition to a new system with improved functionalities, according to Umeme.
On November 24, the deadline set by Umeme, about 95% (2,060,000) of Yaka users had completed the software upgrade. However, the remaining 4.19% (about 90,000) now face the prospect of paying for new meters, as their current ones will become unusable without the upgrade.
“We successfully upgraded more than 95% of the 2.15 million meters on our network, but for those who did not complete the process, their meters will no longer communicate, meaning they cannot generate or key in tokens for functionality,” said Peter Kaujju, Umeme’s spokesperson.
Kaujju explained that the transition to the new system comes with improved functionalities, such as better tracking of power usage. However, some customers have expressed frustration over the upgrade process, citing issues such as lack of awareness about the deadline.
However, some customers have expressed frustration over the upgrade process, while others cited issues such as a lack of awareness about the deadline. “I never received any message from Umeme [about upgrade] and now I might have to pay for a new meter,” Mr Moses Kasongo, a Kampala City resident, said.
Another power consumer who spoke on condition of anonymity said; “I got the message late, and it felt like I was being forced to make the upgrade under pressure.”
To answer their woes, Mr Kaujju pledged that the company is ready to assist those who missed the deadline and ensure a smooth transition to the new system.