FIJI Electricity Authority chief executive Rokoseru Nabalarua said it has not ruled out the possibility of pre-paid meters for residents in densely populated areas in urban centres.

He said the system has been successful for more than 1000 families in the Tailevu and Naitasiri areas for a few years.

«The thing is that most of these villages are located in remote areas and it would be hard for our officers to travel to these areas every month and read their meters before sending them their bills,’’ Mr Nabalarua said.

He said most of these villages do not have mail services and the pre-paid system was their best option.

He added the villagers purchase their cards from outlets in the cities and towns around the country then punch the number into their meter to state the amount of electricity to be used.

Mr Nabalarua said the meter would stop supplying power once the households used up all the cards. Then they need to buy new cards before they are provided with more power.

»Most of these projects have been implemented after studies have been carried out on similar areas in Australia and South Africa,’’ he said.

Last Friday, more than five villagers from the highlands of Naitasiri experienced the delights of using electricity after the Wainikasou hydro project was commissioned by Public Works Minister Savenaca Draunidalo.

They include Laselevu, Udu, Naqelewai, Rewasau, Nadrau, Nadrala, Lewa and Nagatugatu villages.

Landowner and Tui Nadrau Ratu Lemeki Natadra said the new project was a blessing for the villagers who live a few kilometres from Monasavu but have never experienced its pleasure for years.

He said for the past four years, the villages in the Naitasiri province were provided electricity after years of hard work by the Fiji Electricity Authority.

He added the villagers who have been receiving electricity use pre-paid metres for their services.

«It is something similar to the mobile phone cards, where the villagers buy the pre-paid card from the authority’s office and punch in the serial numbers to the meter that allows them to use the power every month.

»The minimum pre-paid card value is $1 and most of the villagers pay between $5- $15 a month depending on how often they use the electricity and the amount of electrical appliances they use in their homes,’’ he said.

Ratu Lemeki said development projects conducted by the authority have been very helpful to the villagers.

He said that because of new developments, road construction have reached villages that were only accessible by horseback and punts for years.

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FIJI Electricity Authority chief executive Rokoseru Nabalarua said it has not ruled out the possibility of pre-paid meters for residents in densely populated areas in urban centres.

He said the system has been successful for more than 1000 families in the Tailevu and Naitasiri areas for a few years.

«The thing is that most of these villages are located in remote areas and it would be hard for our officers to travel to these areas every month and read their meters before sending them their bills,’’ Mr Nabalarua said.

He said most of these villages do not have mail services and the pre-paid system was their best option.

He added the villagers purchase their cards from outlets in the cities and towns around the country then punch the number into their meter to state the amount of electricity to be used.

Mr Nabalarua said the meter would stop supplying power once the households used up all the cards. Then they need to buy new cards before they are provided with more power.

»Most of these projects have been implemented after studies have been carried out on similar areas in Australia and South Africa,’’ he said.

Last Friday, more than five villagers from the highlands of Naitasiri experienced the delights of using electricity after the Wainikasou hydro project was commissioned by Public Works Minister Savenaca Draunidalo.

They include Laselevu, Udu, Naqelewai, Rewasau, Nadrau, Nadrala, Lewa and Nagatugatu villages.

Landowner and Tui Nadrau Ratu Lemeki Natadra said the new project was a blessing for the villagers who live a few kilometres from Monasavu but have never experienced its pleasure for years.

He said for the past four years, the villages in the Naitasiri province were provided electricity after years of hard work by the Fiji Electricity Authority.

He added the villagers who have been receiving electricity use pre-paid metres for their services.

«It is something similar to the mobile phone cards, where the villagers buy the pre-paid card from the authority’s office and punch in the serial numbers to the meter that allows them to use the power every month.

»The minimum pre-paid card value is $1 and most of the villagers pay between $5- $15 a month depending on how often they use the electricity and the amount of electrical appliances they use in their homes,’’ he said.

Ratu Lemeki said development projects conducted by the authority have been very helpful to the villagers.

He said that because of new developments, road construction have reached villages that were only accessible by horseback and punts for years.

Back to Top of Article
FIJI Electricity Authority chief executive Rokoseru Nabalarua said it has not ruled out the possibility of pre-paid meters for residents in densely populated areas in urban centres.

He said the system has been successful for more than 1000 families in the Tailevu and Naitasiri areas for a few years.

«The thing is that most of these villages are located in remote areas and it would be hard for our officers to travel to these areas every month and read their meters before sending them their bills,’’ Mr Nabalarua said.

He said most of these villages do not have mail services and the pre-paid system was their best option.

He added the villagers purchase their cards from outlets in the cities and towns around the country then punch the number into their meter to state the amount of electricity to be used.

Mr Nabalarua said the meter would stop supplying power once the households used up all the cards. Then they need to buy new cards before they are provided with more power.

»Most of these projects have been implemented after studies have been carried out on similar areas in Australia and South Africa,’’ he said.

Last Friday, more than five villagers from the highlands of Naitasiri experienced the delights of using electricity after the Wainikasou hydro project was commissioned by Public Works Minister Savenaca Draunidalo.

They include Laselevu, Udu, Naqelewai, Rewasau, Nadrau, Nadrala, Lewa and Nagatugatu villages.

Landowner and Tui Nadrau Ratu Lemeki Natadra said the new project was a blessing for the villagers who live a few kilometres from Monasavu but have never experienced its pleasure for years.

He said for the past four years, the villages in the Naitasiri province were provided electricity after years of hard work by the Fiji Electricity Authority.

He added the villagers who have been receiving electricity use pre-paid metres for their services.

"It is something similar to the mobile phone cards, where the villagers buy the pre-paid card from the authority’s office and punch in the serial