Households in the commune of Ibanda in Bukavu, in the province of South Kivu, have recently been connected to the prepayment meter system called “Cash power”. This was stated by the provincial director of the National Electricity Company (SNEL) during an interview with Radio Okapi.
This implementation of the Cash power system was welcomed with satisfaction by the inhabitants of Ibanda. Indeed, thanks to this new system, a large part of the municipality is now lit at night, which has a positive impact on the household economy.
The director of SNEL/Sud-Kivu, Jovi Mulemangabo, stresses, however, that the challenge today remains the extension of the Cash power system to the three communes of Bukavu and to the whole of the province of Sud-Kivu.
A recent survey conducted by the NGO “Justice pour Tous” also revealed that SNEL subscribers are very satisfied with the Cash power system. However, some customers complain about the current mode of payment which requires them to go to the points of sale. To remedy this, studies are underway to introduce electronic payments.
Thanks to the electrification of households, the municipality of Ibanda sees its face transformed, offering new opportunities to the inhabitants. The economic and social development of the region is thus supported, contributing to the overall improvement of the quality of life.
This progress in access to electricity demonstrates the will of the authorities and the actors concerned to find innovative solutions to meet the energy needs of the populations. Hoping that this initiative will continue and grow in other regions of the country, thus allowing more households to access reliable and affordable energy.