NAIROBI, Kenya- With the clock ticking down to the end-of-month deadline, at least 5.64 million prepaid electricity customers in Kenya have successfully updated their meters, heeding the call from Kenya Power.
The utility company has been urging all prepaid (token) customers to update their meters to avoid service disruptions.
Kenya Power’s managing director, Joseph Siror, praised the significant progress but reminded those who haven’t yet complied to act swiftly.
“We thank all our customers who have already updated their meters. For those who haven’t, please use the remaining time to update your meters and ensure uninterrupted service,” Siror stated in a press release on Wednesday.
Launched in mid-June 2024, the Update Token Meter Yako Campaign has been Kenya Power’s initiative to ensure that all prepaid customers update their meter software to maintain access to electricity.
The process is straightforward: customers need to purchase at least one unit of electricity, after which they will receive update codes via SMS.
These codes must be entered into the meter following the instructions provided in the token SMS.
It’s crucial for customers to load any previously purchased tokens into the meter before attempting the update.
Failure to update the meter by the deadline means it will no longer accept electricity tokens, leading to a potential disruption in service.
This initiative isn’t unique to Kenya. The global exercise targets all prepaid meters using the Standard Transfer Specification (STS), a universal method that secures the transfer of tokens to prepaid meters.
Kenya Power has adopted a phased approach to avoid system overload, ensuring a smooth process for all customers.
To simplify the meter update process, Kenya Power has implemented several measures. In addition to the SMS notifications, customers can retrieve their update codes via the self-service platform *977#, which also serves as a backup if the SMS is lost or deleted.
“The phased approach has minimized challenges like system delays, making it easier for customers to purchase tokens and access their update codes,” Siror noted.
This methodical rollout has been key to managing the large volume of customer updates without overwhelming the system.
As the deadline looms, Kenya Power’s reminder is clear: update your prepaid meter now to avoid any disruptions.
