TANESCO cuts rental costs, improves service delivery with new fleet

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) has acquired new operational equipment aimed at strengthening service delivery and cutting costs previously incurred through equipment rentals.

According to TANESCO’s Acting Director of Communication and Customer Services, Ms Irene Gowelle, the new purchase includes 100 vehicles, 100 three-wheelers and 284 motorcycles, all of which will be distributed across the country.

“This equipment was procured following the Managing Director, Mr Lazaro Twange’s visits to several regions, where he identified the urgent need for reliable transport to support staff in delivering timely customer service,” she said while speaking in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

Ms Gowelle noted that TANESCO had been spending over 1.3bn/- monthly in the last financial year on equipment rentals, an expense the company now expects to significantly reduce.

“By eliminating rental costs, we are not only saving money but also creating a more conducive working environment for our staff and improving the speed at which we reach our customers,” she said.

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She added that the initiative is part of TANESCO’s broader efforts to modernise operations. “Just as emergency response vehicles have played a crucial role, this new fleet will further enhance our service delivery,” she said.

Distribution of the equipment has already begun, with a directive issued to regional managers to ensure proper use and maintenance, so they bring long-term benefits.

Ms Gowelle further noted that most customer complaints related to power supply are now less, adding that Tanesco is more focused on minor technical faults and issues related to prepaid electricity tokens.

“We’ve improved communication with our customers, especially during minor faults, allowing them to plan accordingly. This has already had a positive impact,” she said.

She said several other initiatives by TANESCO are aimed at boosting efficiency and public trust. Among them is the recent launch of a whistleblower portal designed to receive confidential reports on infrastructure sabotage, asset theft, corruption and gender-based violence in the workplace.

“The portal is accessible to the public, employees and customers. It’s designed to facilitate the reporting of misconduct while safeguarding the company’s integrity,” she explained.

Ms Gowelle said that vandalism, theft and unethical conduct have long hampered electricity services. “The platform enables users to report issues such as infrastructure damage, internal theft, bribery and harassment anonymously. All submissions will be treated with strict confidentiality,” she said.

She concluded that the system marks another step in promoting accountability and protecting public resources, while further enhancing TANESCO’s service delivery.