The verdict in three sentences
For a London-headquartered operator with 14 villages and 6,000 customers on its mini-grids in Cameroon, profitability depends less on solar panels than on revenue collection: manual readings, disputed bills and arrears often absorb 15 to 20% of revenue. A custom platform at 19,500 to 36,000 GBP (15 to 28 million FCFA), delivered in 5 months, links smart prepaid meters to MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money top-ups, then generates the reports impact investors and donors require. With hosting at 130 to 235 GBP a month, payback is measured in under 18 months.
Where the operator loses revenue
Without a central system, a field agent travels from village to village to read meters, collect cash and write down amounts. Gaps between energy produced and energy billed stay invisible, and investors receive hand-consolidated reports, often weeks late.
| Indicator | Manual readings and cash | Prepaid meters and platform | Estimated gap 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrears rate | 15 to 20% | Under 3% (prepaid) | 12 to 17 points |
| Non-technical losses (theft, illegal connections) | 8 to 12% | 2 to 4% | Detected via meter variance |
| Collection cost per customer per month | 0.50 to 0.80 GBP | 0.07 to 0.13 GBP | 0.45 to 0.65 GBP |
| Time to produce an investor report | 2 to 3 weeks | Automatic | Faster disbursements |
| Response time on meter faults | 5 to 10 days | 24 to 72 hours | Remote alerts |
| Consumption visibility per village | Monthly, partial | Hourly | Better sizing of extensions |
With average revenue of 7.20 GBP (5,500 FCFA) per customer per month, 6,000 customers bring in about 43,200 GBP a month, i.e. 518,000 GBP a year. Cutting arrears by 13 points recovers roughly 67,000 GBP a year, a 2026 order of magnitude.
Vendor platform or custom build
International prepaid metering platforms exist, billed per meter per month. They are robust but designed around one meter type, and their hard-currency fees weigh heavily as the fleet grows. Custom software lets you mix meter brands, integrate local mobile money operators and produce each funder's own indicators.
| Criterion | International vendor platform | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 2,600 to 6,500 GBP setup | 19,500 to 36,000 GBP |
| Recurring cost | 0.65 to 1.30 GBP per meter per month, i.e. 47,000 to 94,000 GBP a year for 6,000 meters | Hosting 1,560 to 2,820 GBP a year plus maintenance 3,250 to 5,200 GBP |
| 5-year cost | 238,000 to 476,000 GBP | 43,500 to 76,000 GBP |
| Meter compatibility | Often one or two brands | Multi-brand via API |
| Cameroonian mobile money | Depends on partnerships | MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money built in |
| Investor and donor reporting | Generic templates | Each funder's required indicators |
| Data ownership | Vendor | Operator |
| Time to go live | 2 to 3 months | 5 months |
From a few thousand meters, the per-meter fee makes custom software clearly cheaper over five years. The estimates above assume stable exchange rates and a constant fleet.
Scope in 5 months
| Module | Content | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|
| Customer management | Contracts, tariffs, villages, geolocation, history | 3,250 to 5,800 GBP |
| Smart meter integration | Manufacturer APIs, remote disconnect and reconnect, alerts | 5,200 to 9,700 GBP |
| Online top-up | MTN Mobile Money, Orange Money, top-up tokens, SMS receipts | 3,900 to 7,100 GBP |
| Arrears and loss tracking | Post-paid customers, production vs sales variance, theft alerts | 3,250 to 6,500 GBP |
| Reporting and dashboard | Funder KPIs, kWh sold, average revenue per user | 3,900 to 6,900 GBP |
| Total | 5 months | 19,500 to 36,000 GBP |
Cloud hosting with daily backups costs 130 to 235 GBP a month depending on the volume of meter data.
Mini case study
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Eric, CEO of an off-grid energy company headquartered in Shoreditch, London, powers 14 villages in Cameroon's Centre region. He chooses a custom platform at 28,500 GBP, with 180 GBP of monthly hosting and 3,900 GBP of annual maintenance. Within a year, arrears drop from 17% to 3%, 14 points on 518,000 GBP of revenue, about 72,500 GBP recovered. Collection cost also falls by 0.50 GBP per customer per month, i.e. 36,000 GBP a year. The platform pays for itself in under four months of cumulative gains.
FAQ
How much does mini-grid billing software cost in 2026?
A custom build costs 19,500 to 36,000 GBP depending on meter count and integrations. Add 130 to 235 GBP a month for hosting.
Which prepaid meters are compatible?
The platform connects to meters exposing an API or documented protocol. A mixed fleet of two or three brands stays manageable, at 1,950 to 3,900 GBP per extra brand.
Can customers top up with mobile money?
Yes, through MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money, with a token or credit sent straight to the meter. Top-up takes under a minute and the customer gets an SMS confirmation.
Does the platform produce investor and donor reports?
Yes, with the usual indicators: active customers, kWh sold, average revenue per user, collection rate. Reporting goes from 2 to 3 weeks of preparation to an automatic export.
What happens when the mobile network is down?
Prepaid meters keep their credit and keep working. Data uploads as soon as the network returns, with no consumption lost.
Let's scope your project. Send us your number of villages, customers and meter brands, and we will price the scope, budget and a 5-month plan. 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.
