ZERA To Measure Every Home’s Solar Power In Zimbabwe To Uncover Country’s Hidden Electricity

Zimbabwe’s Hidden Power Crisis: National Survey To Expose True Solar Generation

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) is preparing to measure the solar electricity output of every home in the country in a bold move to uncover a vast, hidden network of private power.

ZERA chief executive Edington Mazambani confirmed the authority is in the process of hiring a contractor to execute the massive nationwide survey. The goal is to map the invisible “shadow grid” created by household solar panels.

“We are at the procurement stage for a contractor to undertake the study for the fieldwork,” Mazambani stated. “We need capacity to cover the whole country.”

He outlined the three core drivers for the colossal audit, linking it directly to the nation’s future energy planning.

“It is done firstly to determine the electrification rate, secondly, national planning and thirdly to anticipate integration within the grid,” Mazambani explained.

A Nation Powered By Sunshine

This decisive action follows a seismic and permanent shift in how Zimbabweans power their lives. Solar energy has evolved from a stopgap solution during prolonged blackouts to a primary, sustainable source of electricity for countless homes. A dramatic plunge in costs is the catalyst. A complete 3.2kVA solar system can now be installed for around US$1 000 (approx. ZAR 18,500), a fraction of its former price.

This mass adoption has created an enormous, unmeasured stream of electricity flowing outside the official records. The government’s last known electrification rate was 62% from the 2022 census. That figure is now considered outdated, rendered inaccurate by the silent solar revolution occurring on rooftops nationwide. ZERA’s audit aims to finally put a number on this hidden resource.

The Great Grid Disconnect

A central paradox identified by experts is that thousands of these solar-powered homes are “energy islands,” physically cut off from the national network. Energy expert Engineer Travor Sande detailed the infrastructure gap that traps surplus power.

“In many newly developed urban settlements, the national utility has yet to install basic power lines, creating a grid-less environment that makes it impossible for households to evacuate surplus solar energy to the national system,” Eng Sande said. “Without poles, lines, and substations, these homes remain energy islands.”

The data from ZERA’s survey is expected to provide a crucial blueprint. It will show the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) exactly where to prioritise building new power lines and substations to connect these isolated producers and harvest their untapped energy.

The Push To Feed Power Back

Authorities are keen to see this hidden electricity flow into the national grid. Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo revealed last year that approximately 75 megawatts of solar power was already being fed back via net metering. He made a public appeal for greater participation from solar owners.

“If you have solar at your house, and you are not using it, mostly during the day, that is when we need more power during the day for industries, do your net metering,” Minister Moyo urged.

This shift, however, is reshaping the entire economics of power. As more consumers become “prosumers”—both producing and consuming electricity—the traditional utility model faces strain. A former senior ZESA executive explained the delicate balancing act now before the regulator.

“When customers become ‘prosumers’, it means ZESA loses some of its revenue,” the former executive said. “Recovering the same revenue from a reduced volume of energy means the unit price of energy has to increase… The real truth is that not every customer will be able to produce their own power so some will have to bear the increased price.”

ZERA’s plan to measure every home’s solar output is the critical first step in governing this new energy era, setting the stage for major decisions on infrastructure, grid management, and the future cost of electricity for all Zimbabweans.