Umeme Limited, the prominent electricity distributor, has commenced a comprehensive upgrade of all prepaid electricity vending and metering systems, with the aim of aligning with global metering standards and meeting the November 2024 deadline. This initiative follows the recent announcement by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development stating that the current Yaka meters will cease dispensing electricity in November, necessitating an upgrade to align with the new vending system.
The primary objectives of this project are to enhance the customer vending experience, improve system security, and ensure accurate recognition of electricity tokens. Umeme assures customers that the upgrade process will be seamless and efficient, with minimal service interruptions. The company has devised a rollout strategy implemented by Umeme staff and, where possible, encourages customer self-service.
Customers slated for the upgrade will receive three tokens via SMS, which they must input into the Yaka meter in the specified order. An upgrade confirmation message will be displayed upon successful token loading. Umeme emphasizes timely communication with customers to keep them informed about the upgrade schedule in their respective areas or districts.
The upgrade aligns with the global transition to the Standard Transfer Specification (STS)2 Token Identifier (TID) standards for prepayment electricity vending and metering systems. STS is the global standard ensuring interoperability between components from different manufacturers, promising enhanced efficiency and security for prepayment systems. The initiative aims to provide customers with reliable and modern services.
“The Token Identifier (TID) is a 24-bit field contained in the compliant tokens, identifying the date and time of the token generation,” Umeme explains. The TID, crucial for determining if a token has been used in a payment meter, represents the number of minutes elapsed since the base date of January 1, 1993.
Umeme emphasizes that the upgrade project will be completed on time, further enhancing the overall experience for customers and reinforcing the reliability and security of the Yaka prepaid electricity system.
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