Manu’a residents can look forward to free installation of debit meters with the American Samoa Power Authority looking at starting their outreach program soon. “We are planning our outreach in Manu’a in July 2014 to get people signed up and ready for installation in August/September,” said Utu Abe Malae in response to Samoa News queries.

The debit meter service allows customers to monitor their electric use on a daily or weekly basis, and is a prepaid service.

According to Utu a transaction server upgrade to expedite the service should happen in July or August, depending on when the vendor can get the equipment and software on island for installation. The upgrade was ordered in March 2014, he said.

According to the ASPA CEO the upgrade is necessary, as it will be the most convenient way for ASPA customers in Manu’a to purchase power on the islands without having to depend on their families in Tutuila to buy power.

“The transaction server upgrade will benefit all our debit meter customers because it will make purchasing debit meter tokens more convenient.”

There will be scratch cards similar to the phone cards purchased at the stores across the island and also Utu said, ”We will work with our local phone service providers on third party vending which will be launched once our transaction server is upgraded.”

Asked how this expansion will be funded, Utu explained, “ASPA received a grant from DOI under the Empowering the Island Communities (EIC) program in the amount of $270,100.”

He said the grant will cover costs for installing debit meters in Manu’a, Aunu’u and low-income ASPA customers. The grant also covers costs for the transaction software upgrade that will allow for scratch cards and third party vending for all ASPA customers in Manu’a and Tutuila.