Tanaka Chare
Due to the alarming number of electricity-related accidents, especially in the winter season, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has facilitated educational workshops and training to consumers as a mitigatory measure.
According to ZERA, on average, three people die every month.
Furthermore, statistics show that 45% of people die due lack of knowledge, 30% is a result of the ZETDC’s poor infrastructure, 15% is due to theft and vandalism, and 10% from employees.
” As ZERA, we have managed to curb the arising issue by facilitating educational workshops in schools, local council meetings and we have trained over 300 people in this period on solar installations, which is a safer source of energy, ” engineer Zaranyika added.
On the other hand, Engineer Tekere noted that ZERA encourages technology-based solutions as a way to save electricity and minimise accidents in homes and workplaces.
“According to the statistics, a lot of the accidents are as a result of improper use of electricity in homes so will be inspecting if they meet the standards of ZERA and we encourage people to save electricity using technology based solutions such as motion sensors, smart plugs and dimmable lights as well as the use of LED bulbs.”
” The benefits of using electrical-based solutions to minimise the usage are that beneficiaries will benefit, the equipment will last and the costs of repairing will be low. “
“ZERA has also encouraged net metering whereby consumers who use both electricity and solar can sell excess power units to ZETDC.”
Moreover, ZERA is in the process of setting up a prepaid metering method for the mining and industry sector, whereby they can pay in advance for the electricity units they want to use.
Meanwhile, efforts have been made in trying to educate people on saving electricity by transitioning to LED bulbs and those would use incandescent bulbs are fined $100 per bulb.
“ZERA urges people to use electricity safely and consult trained electrical personnel to assist when there is a fault.”
when they is a fault.”
