Kenya Power is rolling out a new meter reading system nationwide that uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to improve accuracy and efficiency.
How It Works:
Instead of manually typing numbers, meter readers will now simply scan the meter’s display with a mobile device. The OCR technology automatically captures the reading, eliminating the human errors that often lead to billing disputes.
The Benefits:
- Fewer Billing Errors:Â The primary goal is to eliminate the incorrect readings that cause billing anomalies for customers.
- Increased Efficiency:Â The process is faster for meter readers and streamlines data processing.
- Future Self-Service:Â Kenya Power plans to adapt the OCR technology for customer use, allowing people to easily and accurately scan their own meters for self-reading via the MyPower app or USSD.
The Bigger Picture:
This initiative is a key part of Kenya Power’s broader digital transformation, which also includes the rollout of smart meters. The move toward more precise technology comes as the government plans a new “bulk metering” blueprint to tackle illegal connections, where a single entity would be responsible for purchasing and redistributing power in dense residential areas.
By James Kisoo
