The verdict in three sentences
A London-based operator running 30 solar mini-grids and 6,000 customers in West Africa often loses 20 to 30% of revenue to unpaid bills because it lacks a tool to bill, disconnect and reconnect remotely. Custom customer billing software connects smart meters, mobile money payment and donor dashboards in a single database. On the Kolonell grid, expect 10,670 to 22,870 EUR (7,000,000 to 15,000,000 FCFA) for a timeline of about 4 months.
Market platform or custom software for a mini-grid operator
International mini-grid management platforms exist, often tied to a meter brand. They charge per customer per month, which quickly weighs on an operator whose average customer pays 5,000 to 8,000 FCFA (8 to 12 EUR) a month.
| Criterion | Market platform | Custom Kolonell build |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 3,000 to 9,000 EUR of configuration (market estimate) | 10,670 to 22,870 EUR |
| Recurring cost | 0.5 to 1.5 USD per customer per month, so 3,000 to 9,000 USD a month for 6,000 customers (market) | Maintenance about 180 EUR a month, plus hosting |
| Compatible meters | Often a single brand | Several brands through their APIs |
| Mobile money payment | Depends on available integrations | Built in, credit sent to the meter in under a minute |
| Remote disconnection and reconnection | Yes, depending on the meter | Yes, triggered by credit rules |
| Donor reports (RBF indicators, access) | Generic exports | Dashboards matching your donors' templates |
| Data ownership | With the vendor | With the operator |
Over 3 years, a 1 USD per customer subscription exceeds 200,000 USD for 6,000 customers. That is the main argument for custom once the fleet exceeds 3,000 to 4,000 customers.
Collection rate and costs: before and after
2026 orders of magnitude for an operator with 30 sites and 6,000 customers, average bill of 6,500 FCFA (about 10 EUR) a month (illustrative estimate, to be recalibrated on your data).
| Indicator | Before (notebooks and spreadsheet) | After 12 months (target) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly collection rate | 70 to 78% | 92 to 97% |
| Revenue billed per month | 39,000,000 FCFA (59,450 EUR) | 39,000,000 FCFA (59,450 EUR) |
| Revenue collected per month | 27,300,000 to 30,400,000 FCFA | 35,900,000 to 37,800,000 FCFA |
| Agent trips for disconnection | 300 to 450 a month | Under 30 a month |
| Cost of field rounds (fuel, bonuses) | 2,500,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA a month | 300,000 to 500,000 FCFA a month |
| Time to produce the donor report | 8 to 12 days | Under one day |
| Fraud and undeclared connections detected | Rarely | Alert on generation versus consumption gap |
Moving to prepayment with mobile money top-ups explains most of the gain: the customer buys credit before consuming, and the meter cuts off automatically at zero.
Software modules and their weight in the budget
| Module | Content | Share of budget (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Customer record and contracts | Subscribed power, tariff, site, geolocation | 10% |
| Smart meter integration | Manufacturer APIs, readings, disconnection commands | 25% |
| Mobile payment | Orange Money, Moov Money, SMS receipts | 20% |
| Billing and prepayment | Tariffs by category, bundles, emergency credit | 15% |
| Donor dashboards | Access, collection and generation indicators per site | 15% |
| Field agent app | Connections, faults, offline mode | 10% |
| Security and backups | Role-based access, audit log | 5% |
Meter integration weighs the most: each manufacturer has its own API, and disconnection and reconnection must be tested in the field before rollout. Plan 2 pilot sites for 3 weeks.
Mini case study
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Illustrative example: Emma, managing director of a London-based mini-grid operator with sites around Bamako, runs 30 sites and 6,000 customers. Her collection rate is 74% on billing of 39,000,000 FCFA a month, so 28,860,000 FCFA collected.
With the software and Orange Money prepayment, collection rises to 94%, or 36,660,000 FCFA collected: 7,800,000 FCFA more per month (about 11,890 EUR). Disconnection rounds drop by about 2,500,000 FCFA a month. With a project at about 19,800 EUR (13,000,000 FCFA) and about 180 EUR of monthly maintenance, the investment pays back in under 2 months of full operation.
FAQ
How much does customer billing software for a mini-grid operator cost?
On the Kolonell grid, 10,670 to 22,870 EUR (7 to 15 million FCFA) depending on the number of meter brands and donors to serve. Maintenance is about 180 EUR a month.
Will the software work with our current meters?
Yes, if the manufacturer provides an API or access to its management platform. Integrating each brand is a large share of the budget, around 25%, and is tested on 2 pilot sites.
How does mobile money payment work?
The customer pays from their phone, the software receives confirmation and sends credit to the meter in under a minute, with an SMS receipt. Moov Money can be added in the same module.
Are donor reports automatic?
Yes, access, collection and generation indicators per site are calculated continuously. Report preparation drops from 8 to 12 days to under one day.
How long does the project take?
About 4 months: 3 weeks of scoping, 10 weeks of development, then a 3 week pilot on 2 sites before rolling out to all 30.
Let's scope your project. Send us your number of sites, customers and meter brands: we will price your software within the 10,670 to 22,870 EUR range (7 to 15 million FCFA), delivered in about 4 months. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
