- – Owing to nationwide shortage of electricity meters and service cable
The Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is grappling with a nationwide shortage of more than 25,000 electricity meters and over 1.2 million metres of service cable, a situation that continues to delay new household electricity connections, including in the North West District.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Maun East Member of Parliament Goretetse Kekgonegile recently, Minister of Minerals and Energy Bogolo Joy Kenewendo said the current shortages are being driven by a combination of rising demand for electricity connections, widespread theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure, and funding constraints affecting the Free Electricity Connection Programme.
According to the minister, the national backlog currently stands at 25,349 electricity meters, requiring approximately P45 million to eliminate, and 1,267,450 metres of service cable, which would cost about P139 million to replace. She said the shortages have affected the pace at which customers across the country can be connected to the electricity grid.
Kenewendo revealed that cable theft has become a major contributor to the problem, with BPC recording an average of 10 incidents of service cable theft every day. The corporation is forced to divert resources to replacing stolen cables instead of using them for new customer connections, with the replacement costs being borne by BPC.
She added that the shortage of electricity meters is not due to limited manufacturing capacity but rather insufficient funding to procure enough units to meet growing demand. The Free Electricity Connection Programme is financed through the 10-thebe electricity consumer levy, which she said has not kept pace with the increasing number of households applying for connections.
To address the shortages, the minister said electricity meters are currently sourced from South Africa, although Government expects to diversify its suppliers following the completion of a recent procurement process. BPC received 3,500 electricity meters during the first week of July and plans to place another order for at least 5,000 meters, with delivery expected within seven days of procurement.
The corporation is also sourcing anti-theft service cables from China. A shipment of 14,000 metres was expected by August 3, with an additional 100,000 metres scheduled to arrive between August and October.
Addressing concerns about allocations to the North West District, Kenewendo said BPC distributes available meters and cables according to operational demand and the number of customers awaiting connection in each service area. She acknowledged that the North West’s allocation remains below demand because of the national shortages.
To improve the situation, Government has introduced several interventions, including replacing conventional service cables with anti-theft cables designed to reduce vandalism, maximising procurement through available supplier credit facilities, and authorising contractors to source service cables directly where necessary to avoid unnecessary delays in connecting customers.
Kenewendo said the planned deliveries of meters and anti-theft cables between August and October, together with these operational measures, are expected to progressively reduce the backlog and improve the speed of electricity connections across the country, including in the North West District. She reaffirmed Government’s commitment to ensuring reliable electricity access for all Batswana while strengthening BPC’s capacity to deliver its services efficiently and sustainably.
