Patrick Drijvers
PHILIPSBURG--Utilities company NV GEBE expects to introduce prepaid electricity service by next year after completing the installation of smart meters and the software system needed to support the service, GEBE Manager Distribution Patrick Drijvers said during a GEBE press conference last Friday.
Drijvers said the company is already installing electricity meters capable of operating as both postpaid and prepaid meters, but the software system required to activate prepaid service is still being developed. "The prepaid meters that we are installing now are postpaid and prepaid meters, so we are installing them all over the place now," Drijvers said.
He explained that although the meters are capable of prepaid operation, "the situation that we have is that we do not have the system in place to be able to do prepaid metering."
According to Drijvers, implementing prepaid metering involves much more than simply replacing the meters. He explained that implementing prepaid metering requires a complete process, including installing all meters, investing in the necessary equipment, and putting the required software system in place before the service can begin. He said the meters alone are not enough to launch prepaid billing.
He said GEBE hopes to have the prepaid system operational by next year, allowing customers with outstanding balances, as well as those who prefer prepaid service, to switch between billing options.
"We are trying to get it in place, hopefully, by next year, so that people who are delinquent payers, or those who wish to go on prepaid, can go on prepaid meters. So, they just come in, and you click a button, and it switches from postpaid to prepaid. So, we are working on it. It's just taking time and money," Drijvers said.
He added that neighbouring islands that have already implemented prepaid metering are seeing positive results. "The neighbouring islands that have it already are seeing the benefits of it, so why can't St. Maarten do it? So, we are busy with that as well," he said.
Drijvers also provided an update on the island’s wide smart meter rollout, saying approximately 17,000 meters have already been installed.
He explained that the new electricity and water meters communicate with each other through GEBE's own communications network rather than relying on a third-party provider. According to Drijvers, the electricity meters collect data from the water meters before transmitting the information through GEBE's underground communications system to transformer stations. From there, the data is sent over the company's fibre backbone to its offices. Drijvers explained that GEBE’s water and electricity meters communicate through the company’s own underground and fibre network. The system allows GEBE to collect meter data without relying on a third party, helping to reduce costs.
Drijvers said the western side of the island is now almost entirely covered by the remote metering system. "Right now everything over the two bridges and on the western side of the island, so Simpson Bay, Beacon Hill and Lowland, are currently all on the remote metering system. The meters are being installed all over, but the communication system has to be installed as well, and we are busy doing that," he said.
He added that Pelican and Cay Bay have also been completed. "Cole Bay is next. Pelican has been completed as well. Cay Bay has been completed, so we are basically saying the western side of the island can totally be on the remote metering system right now," Drijvers said.
On the eastern side of the island, only certain districts are currently being read remotely, but GEBE hopes to complete the installation of all remaining meters by the end of the year.
