Thabazimbi metering project extended
Project background
Thabazimbi municipality is located in the west of the Limpopo Province and is one of the six (6) local municipalities in the Waterberg District. The Thabazimbi project commenced after Grinpal approached the municipality with a proposal to install smart metering technology which was primed to resolve many of the municipality's revenue challenges. The installation of smart meters in Thabazimbi, was one of the very first smart metering projects to be undertaken by Grinpal Energy Management Pty (Ltd), a subsidiary of Palace Group.
The municipality was plagued by dwindling revenue caused by electricity theft, illegal connections, meter by-passing and other such related factors. It was also common place to witness frustrations experienced by both end users and municipal workers.
Progress on the project
Once the municipality had approved the installation of Grinpal's smart meters, seven hundred and forty-nine (749) smart meters were completely installed by 2002. Installation of meters was successfully completed in Ipelegeng, Regorogile, Byekorf, 10de Laan, Kromdraai and Laerskool.
The municipality was able to immediately reap the benefits of their investment as revenue collection and management had improved. The Grinpal's smart meters make it impossible for individuals to tamper with the meters thereby preventing illegal connections and electricity theft. Revenue amounts in arrears were collected and the municipality was able to draw real time reports of all revenue collected at various intervals.
Project extension in December 2010
In March 2008, it was reported that the municipality was able to receive an average of three hundred and fifty rands (R350,00) per consumer per month from Grinpal's system, whereas it only received between thirty-five and forty one rands (R35,00 – R41,00) per customer per month in areas where the smart metering system was not installed.
Grinpal was then awarded a further project to replace nine hundred and six (906) smart meters with displays and five (5) cell concentrators on five (5) transformers and the commissioning of the devices. The first phase of these additional installations commenced on 3rd December 2010 where four hundred and fifty three (453) installations are being completed in Thabazimbi Extension 5.The second phase of the installation which is yet to be completed will conclude the installation of the remaining four hundred and fifty three (453) smart meters.