Prepayment meter market continues to expand

Centurion, South Africa — (METERING.COM) — February 26, 2007 – The market for prepayment meters continues to grow, and South African manufacturer Grinpal has been awarded contracts worth about R690m (US$97.3 million) to supply prepaid electricity metering systems to India and the Dominican Republic.

Grinpal is a 50-50 joint venture between multinational technology company Saab Grintek and South African-owned engineering firm Palace Engineering Services. The Indian contract has been signed with power distributor Emco, and work on installing 3 million meters will begin in March. In the last few years India has embarked on many projects to improve its electricity services, while looking for ways to contain revenue losses, and the demand for prepayment meters is expected to reach almost 10 million units.

Independent power producer Transcontinental Capital Corp. of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, has also ordered Grinpal’s prepayment meters.