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The company, conveniently situated in nearby Bellville, has been operating the electricity network for the past six years, using prepayment technology with associated sales vendors. In that time it has notched up the following achievements:

In just 18 months, 43 000 dwellings in Khayelitsha received electricity. This was achieved with connections running at the rate ofup to 200 households each day. Maintaining the highest international quality standards. This led to PN Energy Services being awarded the coveted ISO 9002 quality certification. Enhancing community involvement and capacity building. Not only was the full support of community organisations in Khayelitsha obtained, but the entire workforce of 26 electricity vendors was recruited from the community and trained, with few of them having had any experience in the formal job sector, or any IT experience or vocational skills. Reducing non-technical losses to the minimum. These were reduced from an estimated 70% to a current avarage of 12%. Raising customer service to the highest levels. Various independent audits conducted by both South African and international appraisers have scored customer satisfaction at levels exceeding 8.5 out of 10.

PN Energy Services believes it has set new benchmark standards for operations in similar townships in South Africa.

HOW WAS THIS SUCCESS ACHIEVED?

It was done through technology which was continually developed and improved, and through PN Energy Services' management skills and its customer-orientated policy. From the first day of the contract, the company treated the community with respect and consideration. Through:

Held workshops with the community explaining how the whole township would be electrified. This was done village by village. Displayed maps and diagrams in communal buildings so that people could identify when their area would receive electricity. Involved SANCO and other local official organisations in all the negotiation processes, winning their support and discussing with them the design of the network and connections.

The company opted for prepayment meters as a way of helping customers to budget for their own consumption, which meant no surprises for customers at the end of the month when they were faced with an electricity bill to pay. All the prepayment meters and associated vending systems on the market at the time were investigated, and the most appropriate were selected best suited to the needs of the customers at Khayelitsha.