Uncalibrated ECG meters threaten revenue – GSA

By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi

The Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Professor Alex Dodoo, has raised serious concerns over the lack of proper calibration of many electricity meters used by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), a situation he says could compromise billing accuracy and result in significant revenue losses.

Speaking at a recent stakeholders’ forum on energy efficiency and standards compliance, Prof. Dodoo revealed that a large number of ECG meters have not undergone calibration, undermining trust in the electricity billing system.

“A lot of the meters being used by ECG have not gone through proper calibration. This means we cannot be fully confident about the accuracy of the readings and that affects not just consumers, but ECG’s revenue as well,” he stated.

Calibration is the process of verifying and adjusting the accuracy of measuring devices to ensure they provide correct readings. In the case of electricity meters, improper calibration can lead to overbilling or underbilling, sparking disputes and hurting both consumers and the utility provider.

Prof. Dodoo emphasized the importance of compliance with national standards, urging ECG and other utility providers to collaborate with the GSA to ensure that every meter in use is properly certified.

“This is not just a technical issue, it’s a matter of trust and fairness. We cannot manage what we cannot measure accurately,” he emphasized. The GSA added it will intensify enforcement and strengthen partnerships across the energy sector to standardize metering systems and ensure full compliance with the Ghana Standards Authority Act.