NAWEC Promises End to Accumulated Water Bills as Smart Meter Rollout Expands

By Seedy Jobe

The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has assured customers that persistent problems with delayed water bills and unexpected accumulated charges will soon be resolved as the utility company expands its smart meter installation programme.

Speaking during an interview with Senn FM Radio on Wednesday, NAWEC Communications Officer Buba Badjie said the company was transitioning to a smart metering system designed to improve billing accuracy and address longstanding complaints from customers who go months without receiving bills, only to face substantial accumulated charges.

Mr. Badjie said the rollout had already covered Banjul and Kanifing, with installation teams now extending the programme to Tallinding.

He expressed confidence that the new system would significantly improve billing efficiency and eliminate delays once fully implemented.

According to him, the transition forms part of NAWEC’s broader efforts to modernize its operations and improve customer service.

While acknowledging customers’ right to receive timely bills, Mr. Badjie urged them to take proactive steps when their monthly statements are not delivered.

He advised customers who do not receive their bills by the end of the month to visit the nearest NAWEC branch rather than wait for charges to accumulate.

Mr. Badjie explained that reporting missing bills would help the company identify instances where meter readers had failed to reach customers while allowing consumers to settle their accounts on time.

He noted that every NAWEC customer has a unique account number, making it possible to pay outstanding bills at any of the company’s branches.

Addressing complaints about unusually high or accumulated water bills, Mr. Badjie acknowledged that faulty meters could sometimes contribute to billing discrepancies, although he described such cases as relatively uncommon.

He advised customers who suspect inaccuracies in their bills to request a printout of their water consumption records for the preceding six months.

According to him, reviewing historical consumption data would allow customers and NAWEC officials to compare monthly usage and identify potential irregularities.

He explained that unexpected increases in water consumption could also result from undetected leaks within residential compounds or other plumbing problems.

Such issues, he said, could be identified by examining consumption patterns over several months.

Mr. Badjie encouraged customers with billing concerns to contact NAWEC through its customer service hotline, 166, or visit the nearest branch with their relevant account documents for assistance.

He reiterated the company’s commitment to improving billing transparency and customer service, expressing optimism that the ongoing smart meter rollout would bring an end to the recurring problem of delayed bills and accumulated water charges.