An assessment of the effectiveness of information and communication technology in the billing system in Tanzania: a case study of Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited
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Date
2016
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the billing system in Tanzania. The main problem of this research is errors in electricity bills. The study covered TANESCO head office and Dar es Salaam regions namely Kinondoni North and Coast. The study employedboth qualitative and quantitative research design whereby observation, interview, questionnaire and document review were used as main tools for data collection. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS V.16) was deployed to analyze data obtained. Methods for meter reading collection and tools used to collect meter readings have been studied in detail in order to determine the extent they contribute to errors in electricity bills. The literature review focused on various issues such as electricity meter technology, types of meter reading keyed-in into the computer, the role of ICT into electricity billing process and proposed for Automatic Meter reading architecture. It was revealed by this study that significant numbers of electricity bills were prone to errors despite the use of computerized billing information system. The study indicated that errors in electricity bills caused by manual meter reading and data entry. The findings have also revealed that network that connects smart meters and AMR system was not reliable and consequently some of the meters are not read. ICT should improve the billing system by ensuring accurate electricity bills through eliminating errors.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF HD9685.T34592)
Keywords
Information technology, Eletric utilities, Eletric meter, Finance, Eletric power, Tanzania electric supply company limited, Tanzania
Citation
Swai, S. L. (2016) An assessment of the effectiveness of information and communication technology in the billing system in Tanzania: a case study of Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited,Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.