WILLEMSTAD – Aqualectra is launching a new community outreach campaign called “Aqualectra den Bo Bario” (Aqualectra in Your Neighborhood), aimed at bringing customer service directly into neighborhoods while accelerating the replacement of conventional electricity meters and Pagatinu meters with new smart meters.
In the coming months, Aqualectra teams will visit neighborhoods across Curaçao to replace existing meters and provide residents with information and assistance during the transition.
The first neighborhoods scheduled to be visited are Saliña, Dominguito and Koraalspecht.
The main objective of the campaign is to replace conventional electricity meters and Pagatinu prepaid meters with either a Smart Meter or Smart Prepaid Meter.
During the visits, Aqualectra customer service representatives will accompany technicians to provide residents with more comprehensive assistance.
While technicians replace the meter, customer service employees will explain how the new system works, its benefits and what changes customers can expect. They will also help customers register for Aqualectra's digital platforms and answer questions about the transition.
According to Aqualectra, technological changes and digitalization can create questions or uncertainty among customers. The company therefore wants to ensure that residents receive the necessary information and assistance as its services increasingly move into the digital era.
As part of the campaign, Aqualectra will also establish a mobile office in each neighborhood during the period that its teams are working there. Customers will be able to visit the mobile office during regular business hours for other Aqualectra services or assistance without having to travel as far from home.
The utility company will announce upcoming neighborhoods through its social media channels.
Aqualectra has already been working for some time on replacing conventional water and electricity meters with smart meters. A number of residential and commercial customers already have Smart Meters or Smart Prepaid Meters installed.
Customers who currently have postpaid service and receive a monthly bill will continue using the same type of billing arrangement after receiving a Smart Meter.
Customers currently using Pagatinu, however, will be transferred to the new Smart Prepaid service because the existing Pagatinu system will eventually be discontinued.
According to Aqualectra, Smart Prepaid will continue to give customers control over their electricity spending and consumption but through a system designed to be easier, more efficient and more modern.
The company says smart-meter technology will also provide customers with greater insight into their water and electricity consumption, allowing them to monitor usage more closely.
Aqualectra said the broader digitalization program is intended to improve transparency, communication and customer service while modernizing the island's utility infrastructure.
The company described “Aqualectra den Bo Bario” as another step toward bringing its services closer to residents while working toward reliable, affordable and sustainable utility services for Curaçao.