The introduction of the Pre-paid metre system, widely reffered to in the local parlance as Cash Power by Nawec was greeted with joy by patriotic Gambians as this will bring to an end the lack of payment of electericity bills, causing a lot of financial difficulty to the utility company.

Some time ago a report from the National Assembly stated that millions are owed to the company in the form of arears from Post-paid customers. So, the Pre-paid or Cash Power system is the only way forward for the company to do away with the lack of payment of bills by customers.

But this new system seems to bring untold sufferings to customers, due to its centralised nature. For example, in the BCC, KMC and Western Region, there are only five buying-points, namely Nawec’s Office in Banjul, Bakau, Kanifing, London Corner and Brikama. All the four buying- points cease operation by 8PM, leaving only with Kanifing which operates up to midnight.

With Nawec extending its services to new areas, such as Farato, Busumbala, New Yundum Burushubi, Sanyang, and Brufut, among others, all of whom are connected to the Prepaid system, it is prudent for the company to take into consideration the problems one face in travelling to buy electricity.

This had made Kanifing buying-point overcrowded most of the time as customers are seen lining-up to buy electricity like school children on Assembly. Suggestion from customers is that Nawec should emulate Gamcel and Africel who have already decentralised their Pre-paid card operations, thus making it possible to access its card in almost all the local shops in town.

The management of Nawec should seroiusly consider the plight of customers, especially those in the aforementioned areas.