KPLC Prepaid Elec - Best Practices
I recall sometime back when skunkers discussed this topic. How time flies - this was in 2011!!! http://lists.my.co.ke/pipermail/skunkworks/2011-May/048440.html Now I arrived home on Friday only to see Prepaid meters everywhere on the building! Actually these installers seem not to care about the damage they do to the beauty of the building. These meters are an eyesore to what I was used to. I wonder if there is a way to force the installers to do a better job. For starters, I want my meter installed in my sitting room, or on the kitchen door - a convenient place where I can see it give a warning. In our building they installed them at the same location where the postpaid meters are...staircases away for some neighbors. Can I see redress and get this rectified? Surely, KPLC should consult with their customers on how things are done - like this one, no? Anyway that is not the main reason for my post.
From the 2011 thread, I do not seem to find the best way to handle this new life of Prepaid electricity. I have also read other threads like this -> http://lix.in/-ccaae2 and I still don't seem knowledgeable enough on this. In fact I am more confused.
Some of you have been using this system for ages. Could you kindly share what you'd term "Best Practices" for using the Prepaid Elec. ....thanks!... -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 "I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler."
Well have had prepaid at the abode for 2 years now I think and some of the stuff I have noted is as below. 1. Do not buy lumpsum amounts like 10k or 5k at a go. These attract some tax above 1000 or something like that. Kenya Power can confirm. Small amonts in the region of 500 -1k will keep you away from that tax. Also there is a tax that is paid in lumpsum and its not split up into the different tokens bought. Again I have no details. 2. The amount of power you get for a given amount of money paid is not constant. I have no idea how they calculate but 2 people spending the same on a prepaid token will recieve vastly different no. of units. 3. It is much easier to monitor your consumption. My house consumes about 10kwh per day n average. Most consumption is at night and I believe lights are biggest culprit. Even fluorescent tubes don't help. 4. I think the contractor was just lazy. They are supposed to be in your house not on a wall outside. On Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 11:38 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com>wrote:
I recall sometime back when skunkers discussed this topic. How time flies - this was in 2011!!! http://lists.my.co.ke/pipermail/skunkworks/2011-May/048440.html
Now I arrived home on Friday only to see Prepaid meters everywhere on the building! Actually these installers seem not to care about the damage they do to the beauty of the building. These meters are an eyesore to what I was used to. I wonder if there is a way to force the installers to do a better job. For starters, I want my meter installed in my sitting room, or on the kitchen door - a convenient place where I can see it give a warning. In our building they installed them at the same location where the postpaid meters are...staircases away for some neighbors. Can I see redress and get this rectified? Surely, KPLC should consult with their customers on how things are done - like this one, no?
Anyway that is not the main reason for my post.
From the 2011 thread, I do not seem to find the best way to handle this new life of Prepaid electricity. I have also read other threads like this -> http://lix.in/-ccaae2 and I still don't seem knowledgeable enough on this. In fact I am more confused.
Some of you have been using this system for ages.
Could you kindly share what you'd term "Best Practices" for using the Prepaid Elec.
....thanks!...
-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 "I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler."
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-- Regards, Mark Mwangi markmwangi.me.ke
@Wash, Have a look at this PDF: http://www.google.co.ke/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved... Sorry, don't have the direct link, thats from Google :) Take a look at the tarrif charges (page 8) where it talks about the cost per number of units bought. P.S. You can buy prepaid power tokens from NIC mobile banking directly if you happen to bank with them :) On Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 12:13 PM, Mark Mwangi <mwangy@gmail.com> wrote:
Well have had prepaid at the abode for 2 years now I think and some of the stuff I have noted is as below.
1. Do not buy lumpsum amounts like 10k or 5k at a go. These attract some tax above 1000 or something like that. Kenya Power can confirm. Small amonts in the region of 500 -1k will keep you away from that tax. Also there is a tax that is paid in lumpsum and its not split up into the different tokens bought. Again I have no details. 2. The amount of power you get for a given amount of money paid is not constant. I have no idea how they calculate but 2 people spending the same on a prepaid token will recieve vastly different no. of units. 3. It is much easier to monitor your consumption. My house consumes about 10kwh per day n average. Most consumption is at night and I believe lights are biggest culprit. Even fluorescent tubes don't help. 4. I think the contractor was just lazy. They are supposed to be in your house not on a wall outside.
On Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 11:38 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com>wrote:
I recall sometime back when skunkers discussed this topic. How time flies - this was in 2011!!! http://lists.my.co.ke/pipermail/skunkworks/2011-May/048440.html
Now I arrived home on Friday only to see Prepaid meters everywhere on the building! Actually these installers seem not to care about the damage they do to the beauty of the building. These meters are an eyesore to what I was used to. I wonder if there is a way to force the installers to do a better job. For starters, I want my meter installed in my sitting room, or on the kitchen door - a convenient place where I can see it give a warning. In our building they installed them at the same location where the postpaid meters are...staircases away for some neighbors. Can I see redress and get this rectified? Surely, KPLC should consult with their customers on how things are done - like this one, no?
Anyway that is not the main reason for my post.
From the 2011 thread, I do not seem to find the best way to handle this new life of Prepaid electricity. I have also read other threads like this -> http://lix.in/-ccaae2 and I still don't seem knowledgeable enough on this. In fact I am more confused.
Some of you have been using this system for ages.
Could you kindly share what you'd term "Best Practices" for using the Prepaid Elec.
....thanks!...
-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 "I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler."
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-- Regards,
Mark Mwangi
markmwangi.me.ke
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-- Regards Brian Ngure
In my view, I find buying via m-pesa cheaper than buying via agent, though I only bought once via agent. Problem with m-pesa is that it can take hours to get the tokens, especially around weekends or peak hours. Their system doesn't scale properly and needs frequent maintenance.
I sometimes get the feeling that the mpesa option isn't completely automated. I could be wrong, though... ________________________________ From: Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> To: Skunkworks forum <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:28 PM Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] KPLC Prepaid Elec - Best Practices In my view, I find buying via m-pesa cheaper than buying via agent, though I only bought once via agent. Problem with m-pesa is that it can take hours to get the tokens, especially around weekends or peak hours. Their system doesn't scale properly and needs frequent maintenance. _______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
@Dennis, I doubt it that if you cannot buy via M-Pesa you can do so from an agent, unless the agent already has prepaid metre tokens pre-generated. Which is nearly impossible because they cannot determine the amount of tokens you will require before the actual purchase. I have that on fairly good authority. @Maxwell, the system is fully automated. The delay issue comes up out of a completely unrelated problem. A hint I can leave you with is that the tokens are usually sent to you, eventually, as it happens to every other customer on the tariff that made a prior request ..... Martin. On Apr 21, 2013 4:42 PM, "Maxwell Sabwa" <maxwellsabwa@yahoo.com> wrote:
I sometimes get the feeling that the mpesa option isn't completely automated. I could be wrong, though...
------------------------------ *From:* Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> *To:* Skunkworks forum <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> *Sent:* Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:28 PM *Subject:* Re: [Skunkworks] KPLC Prepaid Elec - Best Practices
In my view, I find buying via m-pesa cheaper than buying via agent, though I only bought once via agent. Problem with m-pesa is that it can take hours to get the tokens, especially around weekends or peak hours. Their system doesn't scale properly and needs frequent maintenance.
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1 bit of advice, once you buy a token and it has not been loaded you cannot buy another token - happened to me once, I noticed that it was running dry and bought a token via mpesa, then ran away to Kajiado before loading, and those left in Nairobi could neither buy a new token by any means since I was unreachable for some time :-) ./Ok3ch On Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 5:48 PM, Martin Chiteri <martin.chiteri@gmail.com>wrote:
@Dennis, I doubt it that if you cannot buy via M-Pesa you can do so from an agent, unless the agent already has prepaid metre tokens pre-generated. Which is nearly impossible because they cannot determine the amount of tokens you will require before the actual purchase. I have that on fairly good authority.
@Maxwell, the system is fully automated. The delay issue comes up out of a completely unrelated problem. A hint I can leave you with is that the tokens are usually sent to you, eventually, as it happens to every other customer on the tariff that made a prior request .....
Martin. On Apr 21, 2013 4:42 PM, "Maxwell Sabwa" <maxwellsabwa@yahoo.com> wrote:
I sometimes get the feeling that the mpesa option isn't completely automated. I could be wrong, though...
------------------------------ *From:* Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> *To:* Skunkworks forum <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> *Sent:* Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:28 PM *Subject:* Re: [Skunkworks] KPLC Prepaid Elec - Best Practices
In my view, I find buying via m-pesa cheaper than buying via agent, though I only bought once via agent. Problem with m-pesa is that it can take hours to get the tokens, especially around weekends or peak hours. Their system doesn't scale properly and needs frequent maintenance.
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@Okech, what you are saying is true. In addition, you can purchase tokens for several different accounts in such circumstances as the same client from the same mobile. Say you buy for one supply on prepaid metres in Nairobi West, another in Doni and the last in Ngumba. Martin. On Apr 21, 2013 6:03 PM, "Okechukwu" <okechukwu@gmail.com> wrote:
1 bit of advice, once you buy a token and it has not been loaded you cannot buy another token - happened to me once, I noticed that it was running dry and bought a token via mpesa, then ran away to Kajiado before loading, and those left in Nairobi could neither buy a new token by any means since I was unreachable for some time :-)
./Ok3ch
On Sun, Apr 21, 2013 at 5:48 PM, Martin Chiteri <martin.chiteri@gmail.com>wrote:
@Dennis, I doubt it that if you cannot buy via M-Pesa you can do so from an agent, unless the agent already has prepaid metre tokens pre-generated. Which is nearly impossible because they cannot determine the amount of tokens you will require before the actual purchase. I have that on fairly good authority.
@Maxwell, the system is fully automated. The delay issue comes up out of a completely unrelated problem. A hint I can leave you with is that the tokens are usually sent to you, eventually, as it happens to every other customer on the tariff that made a prior request .....
Martin. On Apr 21, 2013 4:42 PM, "Maxwell Sabwa" <maxwellsabwa@yahoo.com> wrote:
I sometimes get the feeling that the mpesa option isn't completely automated. I could be wrong, though...
------------------------------ *From:* Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> *To:* Skunkworks forum <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> *Sent:* Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:28 PM *Subject:* Re: [Skunkworks] KPLC Prepaid Elec - Best Practices
In my view, I find buying via m-pesa cheaper than buying via agent, though I only bought once via agent. Problem with m-pesa is that it can take hours to get the tokens, especially around weekends or peak hours. Their system doesn't scale properly and needs frequent maintenance.
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The NIC option is fully automated, and cheaper. More mobile banking options being added soon. Also, no delays. On Apr 21, 2013 4:42 PM, "Maxwell Sabwa" <maxwellsabwa@yahoo.com> wrote:
I sometimes get the feeling that the mpesa option isn't completely automated. I could be wrong, though...
------------------------------ *From:* Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> *To:* Skunkworks forum <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> *Sent:* Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:28 PM *Subject:* Re: [Skunkworks] KPLC Prepaid Elec - Best Practices
In my view, I find buying via m-pesa cheaper than buying via agent, though I only bought once via agent. Problem with m-pesa is that it can take hours to get the tokens, especially around weekends or peak hours. Their system doesn't scale properly and needs frequent maintenance.
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participants (7)
-
Brian Ngure -
Dennis Kioko -
Mark Mwangi -
Martin Chiteri -
Maxwell Sabwa -
Odhiambo Washington -
Okechukwu