ECG begins audit of all meters- Ing. Otoo

By Selorm GBORBIDZI, Accra

As part of the ongoing efforts by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to boost revenue generation and minimize power losses, a meter auditing exercise, referred to as ‘Operation Fix the Bill, Pay the Bill,’ has begun.

This operation, scheduled to take place from Monday, November 6, to Friday, December 11 of this year, involves ECG personnel being dispatched across their operational areas to assess the integrity of meters and customer connections.

Ing. Bismark Otoo, the Accra East Regional Manager of ECG, shed light on the purpose behind this exercise in an interview with The Finder.

ECG has faced difficulties in accounting for a portion of the energy supplied in the past.

Consequently, ECG management has resolved to scrutinize every structure connected to electricity in the nation.

According to Ing. Otoo, “Management decided that we should embark on this exercise, visiting every house and structure with electricity connections to verify the meter’s functionality, billing status, and accuracy. Our goal is to ensure that all the power we distribute is properly accounted for. By doing so, we can identify areas of losses and secure the necessary funds for the company’s continued operations.”

He further explained that ECG officials have been equipped with electronic meter readers to obtain precise readings during their visits to individual premises.

He emphasized that the exercise is not aimed at disconnecting customers but at verifying the integrity of the meters and service connections.

“When we arrive at a premises, we will check the meter number. If the meter is already in place, we will verify its billing status. If the meter is receiving a bill but the status is inaccurate, we will inform the customer to rectify the situation,” he explained.

“If there is no bill, we will promptly issue one for the customer to pay. The objective is to audit our service connections to all ECG customers, pinpointing areas of losses that have hindered our progress over the years.”

The General Manager also noted that if ECG personnel cannot meet the occupants at a location, they will leave notes asking customers to get in touch with ECG for a more convenient time.

Failure to respond within approximately three days may result in power disconnection to the meter in question.

Moreover, ECG management will engage with managers of gated communities to ensure access for their staff.

In cases where an agreement cannot be reached with these communities, the service may be denied.

“This operation is all about understanding our customers. We aim to address the billing concerns that customers have been expressing, so that everyone can have confidence in paying their bills. We kindly request that customers do not hinder our access to the meters when we visit,” said Ing. Otoo.

The ECG’s ambitious goal is to audit about two million meters nationwide, with an estimated 150,000 meters to be covered in the Accra East Region, which stretches from Makola to Manfe, as part of this initiative.

It has emerged that 50% of ECG customers are engaged in power heft.

A large number of people intentionally steal power just because they do not want to pay for power.

Each year, ECG records 28% losses estimated at GH₵2.8 billion.

Power theft alone accounts for 10% of the losses.

Power theft costs GH₵1bn each year

It means that the 50% of ECG customers who steal power cause GH₵1 billion loss to ECG each year.

For Accra East Region operational area alone, ECG loses estimated GH₵2 million monthly due to usage of sub-standard meters.

The estimated 20, 000 illegal meters in circulation in the region had been identified to have come from neighbouring Togo and were totally different from meters coming from the Ministry of Energy and ECG.