Impact assessment of the TANESCO automatic meter reading (AMR) system

This research mainly focuses on the impact assessment of the TANESCO automatic meter reading (AMR) system. The AMR system is a metering system that is used to collect data remotely from a meter and process the data for billing and other decision-making purposes. As TANESCO has already installed some AMR, the assessment of the impact of this system carried out in the study helped to determine whether the investment required is justifiable. The assessment of the AMR system’s impact on TANESCO was conducted in Dar es Salaam at TANESCO’s Temeke, Ilala, Kinondoni North, and Kinondoni South regional offices. A survey approach was used to collect quantitative data. The impact assessment used both comparative and benchmark analysis of the situation before AMR and on other existing metering systems. Stratified random probability sampling was used to generate a sample of 470 customers. However, was estimated only 400 returned the questionnaire administered to the respondents. For TANESCO staff sample 100 respondents were recruited and all of them returned the questionnaires. The data was analyzed using SPSS. The results revealed both positive and negative impact of the AMR, LUKU and conventional metering systems deployed by TANESCO for its viable customers. The study concluded that the AMR technology is generally good for mainland Tanzania and TANESCO to fully accept it as a revenue management tool for all his customers. However, TANESCO to employ the AMR system countrywide effectively, it has to provide training to its staff and customers on the application of the system and conductmarketing of smart meter, adopt multiple communication technologies, introduce mobile SMS billing. Contract other telecommunication companies, integrate AMR system with Billing system, and use PLC and fibre.