ON August 6, 1996, The Fiji Times reported that monitoring electricity took a more advanced form at Vaturua Village in Tailevu where a new Fiji Electricity Authority (Now Energy Fiji Ltd) meter system, Cashpower 2000, was commissioned.
The report stated FEA’s regional manager central, Josefata Ligaitamana, said the system was being implemented as a pilot project in five villages in and near Tailevu.
The other villages were Buretu, Daku, Matainoco and Naimalavau.
“The system is very convenient for residents in rural areas largely because they do not have to travel far to pay their electricity bills,” The Fiji Times quoted Mr Ligaitamana as saying.
“Cashpower 2000 involves a network of meters per household that is connected by cables to a computerised cash register at a vendor site such as a village store. A week’s discussion was held with the five villages and when they gave their consent, we started installation in May.
“The system, which is manufactured and extensively used in South Africa, works on a pre-payment basis.”
The Fiji Times report also quoted Mr Ligaitamana as saying all a customer had to do was purchase an affordable amount of electricity from the FEA’s appointed agent and a receipt with a credit transfer number (CTN) would be issued.
It said CTN had 19 numbers which must be inputted into the household meter and that if the numbers were incorrectly inputted, the meter would flash specific lights to indicate the mistake.
“In addition, the new meter indicates the amount of electricity left and thus warns the customer of when to restock on electricity,” Mr Ligaitamana said.
“Very little maintenance is required and the new system allows people to properly budget.”
According to the article, FEA’s public relations officer Ratu Peni Volavola said the system was installed by the FEA at no extra cost to the villagers.
“One meter costs $185 and installation costs around $100,” he said.
“A total of 93 meters have been installed so far and more will be installed depending on demand.”
