The Electricity Company of Ghana has announced a time table for power cuts in parts of the capital city beginning Monday, May 10, 2021.
This follows an ongoing system improvement works on the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point.
ECG in a statement indicated that, the project will require a complete shutdown of the 330kv transmission line thereby affecting power supply and reliability to the Mallam Bulk Supply Point.
“As part of projects to improve power supply reliability and system voltages, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana will undertake interruptions in power supply to facilitate the work of contractors at various stages and times.
“In this regard, the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) which is near completion and sponsored by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) under the auspices of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) will require a tie into GRIDCo’s 330kv transmission line,” the statement read.
Power, however, is expected to stabilize on Monday, May 17, 2021.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says it has started work to improve the communication link between its servers and prepaid meters to reduce instances of its customers getting debts on their meters.
In a press release addressing concerns by the Institute of Energy Securities about the service it renders to prepaid customers, the ECG said its team of technical staff have been deployed to upgrade the communication network between the prepaid meters and its servers which has resulted in debts for some customers.
Addressing concerns by the Institute of Energy Securities about the service it renders to prepaid customers, the ECG said there is no feature in the prepayment system that converts electricity credit to debt.
“Currently, a team of technical staff have been deployed to upgrade the communication network between the prepaid meters and the server, and this has resulted in the increasing debts of customers whose meters have been operating on credit mode, and as such have not made any commensurate purchases of electricity used over the months,” the release said.
“We take this opportunity to thank our affected customers for their patience, and the IES for raising the concerns of customers. However, we wish to assure our stakeholders that we have already started assiduous work to improve the communication link between the server and the meters, as well as replace faulty meters with new ones”.
The release signed by the Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyemang-Budu added that in some “minimal cases, prepaid customers stay connected even after their credit runs out which can lead to a debt which is deducted at the next deposit.
“ECG currently operates internationally approved standard prepayment metering systems for over 2 million customers using the approved PURC tariff. There is no feature in the prepayment systems that converts electricity credit to debt, nor is there a facility where “the more a customer buys electricity, that customer will owe ECG”,” the release said.
“Generally, with ECG prepaid meters, money is deposited into a meter account and dispensed with an approved tariff till it is finished, then the meter disconnects electricity supply till another deposit is made. In some minimal cases, the meter breaker stays connected and the meter continues to record the customer’s consumption on a zero balance, and this can lead to a debt”.
The release further explained that there can be a lag in communication between ECG servers and some smart meters deployed in 2014 which can result in a negative balance when communication is restored.
“For some smart meters deployed in 2014 in parts of Accra, the money is deposited into the customer’s account on a centralized server and gets dispensed only when the meter is remotely connected to the server,” the release said.
“Delayed routine reconciliation due to failed remote communication between meters and the server automatically switches the meters into credit mode and allows the customers to consume electricity beyond their remaining credit. This usually results in a negative balance when communication is restored between the server and the meters.
“In most cases, debt after the reconciliation of the customer’s initial deposit and the actual electricity consumed is scheduled for payment on flexible terms for the customer”.
Read the entire release below;
Date: 22nd December 2020
PRESS RELEASE
RE: THE ECG MUST QUICKLY RESOLVE THE CHALLENGES OF PREPAID CUSTOMERS
The Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) attention has been drawn to a media release on 21 December 2020, by the Institute of Energy Security (IES) to quickly resolve challenges of prepaid customers.
The ECG wishes to explain the situation to its stakeholders and our cherished customers as follows;
ECG currently operates internationally approved standard prepayment metering systems for over 2 million customers using the approved PURC tariff. There is no feature in the prepayment systems that converts electricity credit to debt, nor is there a facility where “the more a customer buys electricity, that customer will owe ECG”
Generally, with ECG prepaid meters, money is deposited into a meter account and dispensed with an approved tariff till it is finished, then the meter disconnects electricity supply till another deposit is made. In some minimal cases, the meter breaker stays connected and the meter continues to record the customer’s consumption on a zero balance, and this can lead to a debt.
For some smart meters deployed in 2014 in parts of Accra, the money is deposited into the customer’s account on a centralized server and gets dispensed only when the meter is remotely connected to the server. Delayed routine reconciliation due to failed remote communication between meters and the server automatically switches the meters into credit mode and allows the customers to consume electricity beyond their remaining credit. This usually results in a negative balance when communication is restored between the server and the meters.
In most cases, debt after the reconciliation of the customer’s initial deposit and the actual electricity consumed is scheduled for payment on flexible terms for the customer.
Currently, a team of technical staff have been deployed to upgrade the communication network between the prepaid meters and the server, and this has resulted in the increasing debts of customers whose meters have been operating on credit mode, and as such have not made any commensurate purchases of electricity used over the months.
We take this opportunity to thank our affected customers for their patience, and the IES for raising the concerns of customers. However, we wish to assure our stakeholders that we have already started assiduous work to improve the communication link between the server and the meters, as well as replace faulty meters with new ones.
Customers who require further information or have peculiar challenges with their prepaid meters are being advised to call ECG customer service centre on 0302 611611, where their details will be recorded for the metering experts to take up the issues and work promptly to normalize the situation. Thank you. END.
About 350,000 existing customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will benefit from the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) upon completion in May next year.
The project, which is 87 per cent complete, would hold 580 MVA and redistribute to the area and ensure steady power.
Residents of Kwabenya, Ofankor, Legon, Nsawam, and Anyah will heave a sigh of relief upon completion since there would be sufficient power supply to boost their business operations and domestic purposes.
The US$50 million project is being funded by the United States Government through its Agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Two million US dollars has been spent on corporate social responsibility projects such as road construction and donations to health facilities within its catchment areas.
Mr Patrick Kwame Oppong, the BSP Project Manager, who briefed the media on Thursday during a project site visit, said a total of US$10 million had been spent on local sub contractors for undertaking some aspects of the project in compliance with the local content policy directives.
The Project is being executed by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), with Elecnor SA Ghana as the contractors and Surbana Jurong Group as the supervising engineers.
Mr Mateo Perez Camino, the Country Director of Elecnor SA Ghana, told the media that major works on the BSP were nearing completion including the Control Buildings for GRIDCo and the ECG, drainage systems, installation of transformers, fencing, gantries, Switchgears and storage yards.
Currently, he said, cables were being laid and some equipment commissioned.
He said the company had been complying with the environmental and COVID-19 safety protocols.
He informed that about 95 per cent of the workforce at the substation were Ghanaians, who were benefiting for knowledge transfer and would subsequently manage the facility when it is finally handed over to the government.
The Pokuase BSP, the fourth Bulk Supply Point in Accra, is designated as A4BSP, and its associated 33 kilovolt and 11 kilovolt interconnecting lines intended to address power supply challenges including frequent outages and low voltages, resulting from increased power demand in Accra and the surrounding communities.
The Project would also lead to a significant reduction in technical losses in the GRIDCo transmission system and the ECG power distribution, which would contribute to improving the financial viability of the utilities.
The Pokuase BSP is the first 330kV in Accra and the largest in the country when completed.
The Project will be developed under the existing 330kV Aboadze-Volta-Lome Transmission line at Pokuase.
The project started in April 2019 and expected to be completed on May 31, 2021.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has partnered an indigenous Ghanaian firm POBAD International to install electric vehicle (EV) charging systems across Ghana.
According to statement issued by the power distribution company, the move is intended to shed light on the introduction and usage of electric vehicle modules to Ghanaian consumers.
Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyeman-Budu said his outfit has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with POBAD International Limited to pilot the operations of the EV charging system over the next three months in strategic locations of Accra.
“The pilot phase would afford ECG the opportunity to carry out a thorough engineering and commercial studies into the effects of the EV charging system on EC’s electricity distribution networks and the energy consumption rate of the different charging systems,†Agyeman Budu said.
He added results from the pilot phase would guide all interested persons in the automobile industry to contribute significantly to the development of the EV subsector in Ghana.
Agyeman-Budu called further called on all relevant stakeholders and institutions to collaborate towards developing standards to grow the EV sector.
“We wish to call on the Ghana Standards Authority, the Energy Commission, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and other relevant bodies and institutions to work together with ECG to develop standards and regulations to guide and govern the growing EV sector in Ghana,†he said.
Managing Director of POBAD International Limited, Paul Badoo on his part said his outfit seeks to partner with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) to replicate the initiative in the Northern sector of the country.
Baidoo noted the company has so far installed two EV charging sites at the A&C Mall in East Legon, Accra, and Stanbic Heights, Airport City.
“More of these sites will be completed in 2021 and we plan to install ultra-fast EV charging hardware which would charge electric vehicles between 15 and 30 minutes at their partner filling stations along the major highways to offer support to EV drivers when they travel between towns and other regions in Ghana,†he disclosed.
On the payment options for the EV charging systems, Badoo explained, “Payment for the use of EV charge-up hardware will be strictly cashless using a bank credit and debit card. An authorised mobile pay Apps will be made possible when our integration with some financial service partners is completed in the near future.â€
Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy, Lawrence Apaase, who represented the sector Minister, noted that the advent of EVs in the country would help to make good the utilisation of the excess energy the country has been paying for.
He allayed the fears of those who think that the electricity consumption by EVs could limit electricity supply to domestic consumption.
“Already, we have more than we need for our daily use and so filling in more demand would rather help us consume the excess we are paying for without utilising it,” he explained.
Mr Apaase commended ECG for the initiative, saying it would not only benefit individuals but also help Ghana by helping the country stay compliant with United Nations Development Goals Especially Goal 7, which is about clean energy.
Meanwhile, in 2019, Ghana’s electricity regulator, Energy Commission, outdoored the “Drive Electric Initiative†as part of effort geared towards promoting the use of electric powered vehicles for the transportation needs of Ghanaians.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has invested in infrastructure projects to the tune of about GH¢66million to improve power supply in the Eastern Region.
The projects included the construction of 2 by 10, 33/11 MVA primary substation at Suhum at a cost of GH¢2,809,524.48, the complete laying of submarine cable in the Afram River at a cost of GH¢7,464,483.19 to enhance the quality of power supply at Afram Plains and the conversion of a 33KV single circuit feeder to a double circuit feeder from Akyem-Tafo to Koforidua costing GH¢11 million cedis.
Mr Kwame Agyeman-Budu, Managing Director of ECG, disclosed this at the commissioning of a 2 by 10 MVA 33/11KV primary substation to serve the Kwahu-Ridge and the Afram Plains enclave at a cost of GH¢55million cedis.
He explained that the installation of the substation will enhance, customer-end-voltage in the supply communities and ensure the availability of excess power required for both present and future investment.
The Managing Director indicated that due to the strategic location of the station, it was possible for the Eastern Region to link the Ashanti Strategic Business Unit (SBU) electrical network at Agogo.
Mr Agyeman-Budu noted that several network development projects had been completed for reinforcement of the primary distribution network and also for upgrading and expanding of the networks.
He said the completion of the projects as well as the injection into the network system, would improve the flexibility of overloaded feeders, the voltage profile as well as an increase in systems capacity, to accommodate the increasing demand of customers.
The Eastern Regional General Manager, Mr Micheal Baah stated that prior to the construction of the substation, the Kwahu ridge used to experience erratic and poor-quality power supply due to the length of the 11KV feeder at the Nkawkaw primary substation, which served the area.
He said the situation made management provided a 33/11 KV mobile substation in 2016 to be used temporarily, while measures were taken for the construction of a permanent primary substation.
He noted that the completion of the station will bring flexibility in the supply of power because the Region could now link all the four outgoing feeders to the station to reduce the impact of power outages.
Government has given $130 million to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to help the power generating firm replace its obsolete equipment, to reduce power losses, and ensure sustainable power generation.
Mr John Peter Amewu, the Minister of Energy, who made this known when he took his turn at the Nation Building Updates in Accra on Thursday, said it would ensure efficient transportation of electricity, add value to power generation and ensure cheaper electricity supply to consumers.
He noted that the stable power supply Ghanaians are currently enjoying was due to Inter-Ministerial and agency collaboration and placing competent people in the right position to deliver quality services as well as the effective leadership provided by President Akufo-Addo.
The competencies exhibited by the Chief Executive Officers of energy institutions such as the Volta River Authority, Ghana National Gas Company, Bui Power Authority, Ghana Grid Company, and Energy Commission have ensured stable electricity supply and low tariffs, Mr Amewu added.
He explained that the Akufo-Addo-led government had tremendously improved the grid system thus, aiding the flow of electricity to power consumers.
Additionally, it had completed gas reverse flow, paid the chunk of the debts owed the Independent Power Producers, and transferred the Karpower Barge from Tema to Sekondi-Takoradi to use natural gas thereby ensuring efficient utilisation and less cost in power generation.
Also, the ruling government had procured and distributed 12 million energy-saving bulbs, which enabled power consumers to use more power and pay less electricity tariffs, Mr Amewu stated.
According to the Institute of Social, Statistical and Economic Research’s (ISSER) Social Development Outlook 2015 reports, the Ghana government recorded GHc924 million losses in 2014 alone as a result of the power crises.
The event, on the theme: ” Keeping the Lights on, Powering our Growth” provides a platform for government ministries, departments, and agencies to render accounts of their stewardship to the public as part of the government’s accountability efforts.
The Minister used the opportunity to explain the state of the country’s energy situation under the National Democratic Congress Administration and measures the current government instituted to ensure reliable and affordable electricity supply to consumers.
Mr Amewu indicated that the Mahama’s Administration increased electricity tariffs by 268 per cent between 2010 and 2016 amid the power crises (dumsor), leading to the collapse of many businesses.
“Today, under President Akufo-Addo’s government, the electricity tariffs we’re paying is far less than the tariffs that we were paying in 2016.
” This is happening because the various energy agencies are talking to each other to see how each of them will play their respective roles for effective power supply.
“This is so because the President puts competent people at the right position, we do not need to sign a new power purchase agreement or build a new power plant, but just using their knowledge, collaboration, and identity, and this exactly what this government has done…so give Nana Akufo-Addo four more years to do more for you,” Mr Amewu stated.
Going forward, Mr Amewu said, the Akufo-Addo’s government would continue the rural electrification programme, engage in the competitive procurement of power, and minimise capacity charges.
Some angry members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Asesewa in the Eastern Region have chased out the staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and locked the offices.
They accused the Company of intentionally cutting power supply just when the Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia was about to address a campaign rally at the Asesewa market on Tuesday evening.
The irate members besieged the ECG premises and ordered the workers to vacate their offices because they suspected the workers were on a mission to sabotage the NPP campaign in the area.
A worker who spoke to JoyNews said they dragged them from their offices onto the compound and locked the main entrance.
He narrated that the stranded workers had to scale the walls, leaving behind their vehicles and other properties before they could go home.
Explaining what led to the power cut, the worker who pleaded anonymity said the Asesewa district has its source of power distribution from a substation at Akyem-Tafo, hence the Asesewa office could not have deliberately interrupted power supply when the Dr Bawumia was billed to address his party.
He stated that a team had to trace the source of the power cut to Boti where a tree branch had fallen on the main distribution cable.
According to him, even though the challenge was immediately rectified after the Vice President left, some communities are yet to have power restored.
A leading member of the NPP in the Upper Manya Krobo constituency, Philip Mamphey, however, disagrees with the explanation of the ECG.
According to him, the act to cut power supply anytime the NPP holds a rally has become one too many.
“As for electricity, the can be emergency outages most of the time. But this is not the first time this is happening in the Upper Manya constituency, In 2012, the same thing happened and in 2020 it has happened again.
“And so the community and our party people have suspected that this is a deliberate act t make our party unpopular and disrupt the programme. And that is unfair,†he said.
When contacted, Eastern Regional PRO of ECG Mary Eshun Oppong confirmed the locking of the offices.
The ECG staff have since reported the case at the Asesewa Police station.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says its engineers are working to restore power to parts of the Greater Accra Region currently facing power outages.
According to ECG, the outages are as a result of the rainstorm that hit parts of the country on Saturday, October 10, 2020.
ECG said the rainstorm affected some of its distribution network hence the outages on Saturday and Sunday.
“The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited wishes to inform its cherished customers in the Greater Accra that the heavy rainstorm which hit the region yesterday, 10th October 2020, has caused outages within the distribution network.â€
“Customers should please note that our Engineers are working assiduously to restore power supply to affected customers.â€
It however urged persons experiencing outages to report to the nearest ECG office.
“Customers experiencing outages within their individual premises should kindly contact our call centre on 0302611611, report to the nearest ECG office, or reach us on our social media handles @ECGghOfficial.â€
The Electricity Company of Ghana is lamenting how some of its non-lifeline customers have refused to settle their bills after the expiration of government’s three-month COVID-19 electricity subsidization in July.
Government as part of its efforts to ease the effects of COVID-19 on citizens in April announced the total absorption of bills for lifeline electricity consumers and 50% absorption of bills for non-lifeline consumers.
When the three-month period expired at the end of June, government extended the subsidy for the remainder of the year for the lifeline consumers and said non-lifeline consumers were to revert to paying their bills in full.
Speaking in an interview with the state broadcaster, GBC, the Director of Training for the Electricity Company of Ghana, Dr George Marfo said there has since the expiration of the subsidy been some reluctance on the part of non-lifeline consumers using postpaid metres in settling their bills.
“Our clients will not willingly come to our places to pay, we were devising new strategies to get them to pay. We felt that if we sensitize them they will willingly come to the offices to pay rather than resorting to disconnection and those things that create a lot of inconveniences.â€
He said with the government subsidy expired and clients refusing to come in and settle their bills, ECG is going to embark on a sensitization campaign to make the public aware of the expiration in the hope that they will be informed enough to settle their bills so that they as a power distribution company can keep on serving the nation with uninterrupted power supply.
The Minority in Parliament has blamed the recent power outages on the failure of government to release funds to GRIDCo and ECG.
Consumers of electricity have been complaining about intermittent outages in Accra, Kumasi, and other places in the country.
In an interaction with the media in parliament, minority spokesperson on mines and energy Adam Mutawakilu accused government of failing to use proceeds of the Energy Sector Levy, ESLA put together by the Mahama administration to settle debts of GRIDCo and other players under huge financial distress.
According to the Damango MP management and staff of both GRIDCo and ECG have been gagged from telling Ghanaians the challenges at the two organizations.
He wants the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to take punitive actions for poor services to customers.
Touching on rural electrification, Adam Mutawakilu shot down NPP manifesto promise to achieve universal electrification by 2030 arguing former President Mahama will do it in 5 years after assuming power next year.
Utility consumers are to enjoy free water and electricity supplies for the next three months.
It follows plans by the government to extend the free electricity and water relief packages that ended in May for three more months.
The new measure is to be announced in the mid-year budget review that the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, is presenting to Parliament today.
Graphic Online is reliably informed that while the free water initiative would be for all water consumers, that of the electricity would be limited to lifeline consumers.
Watch the Finance Minister’s address below;
When announced and implemented, it will bring to six months, the number of months that water and electricity supplies have been subsidised to help consumers cope with the economic challenges of arising from the raging novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In the first instance, the government absorbed the water and electricity costs for all consumers in the case of water and lifeline consumers in the case of electricity.
Some customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana would experience a shutdown of prepayment platforms which could result in power cuts this weekend.
According to the ECG, this would affect the customers on the BXC prepayment systems.
This is because the utility provider would be undertaking a “scheduled upgrading of the BXC prepayment system,†an ECG statement said.
To avoid experiencing a power cut, the ECG has advised customers living in the Nungua, Teshie, Bortianor, Nsawam and Ablekuma district to purchase enough prepared power to last them over the weekend.
The Minority in Parliament is demanding the immediate withdrawal of over 18 per cent tax on electricity as it warns of dire consequences on domestic consumers.
Their demand comes after the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) tasked the ECG to charge Value Added Tax, (VAT) on domestic consumers.
Until now, electricity for consumers has been zero-rated for VAT since 2001.
Addressing the media in Parliament, the minority spokesperson on Mines and Energy, Adam Mutawakilu, accused the president of giving 50 perfect rebates to consumers with one hand and taking it back with another.
The Damango MP warned that both consumers and ECG will be worse off with the move.
“That means that you will pay more for electricity, it will deny you from the food that you buy because you have to do your scale of preference and consumers will be burdened the more…so this 50 per cent was just to deceive Ghanaians, so you gave it to Ghanaians with one hand and then you take it with another hand.â€
The decision to impose VAT on electricity for consumers comes a month after the President reduced electricity consumption by 50 per cent to commercial and domestic consumers and free lifeline consumers
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has directed all electricity and power-producing companies to apply the GETFund Levy of 2.5%, NHIL 2.5% and VAT rate of 12.5% on the value of the energy they supply the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
According to the GRA, it has sighted a notice dated March 13, 2001, which waives VAT on electricity supplied to the ECG.
The GRA said the agreement is contrary to the Value Added Tax, 2013 (Act 870) which does not list supply of energy and capacity charge as one of the items that should be zero-rated.
“It has come to our notice that some electricity producing and power supplying companies do charge VAT, GETfund and NHL, at zero rate to the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited contrary to the Value Added Tax Act, 2013 (Act 870).â€
“We wish to state that Section 36 of the Act which provides for zero rating of supply refers to the Second Schedule of the Act. However, the Second Schedule of the Act did not list supply of energy and capacity charge as one of the items that should be zero rated,†GRA said in a statement signed by its Acting Commissioner-General, Ammishadai Owusu-Amoah.
The standard VAT rate is 12.5 percent calculated on the value of the taxable supply of goods or services or the value of an import.
However, the zero-rated items include goods and services sold by companies who are free from the Goods and Services Tax.
“We hereby direct that all electricity and power producing companies are required to apply the GETFund levy of 2.5% and NHIL 2.5% after that VAT is a standard rate of 12.5% on the value of the supplies, the GRA statement directed.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is spending GH¢44.7 million to ensure reliable power supply in the Ashanti Region.
Of this, it would in the short term spend GH¢15.2 million to conduct extension and intensification power projects in the region.
In the medium term, plans are far advanced to use the remaining GH¢29.5 million to construct a sub-station at Agogo to help improve power supply in Konongo, Ejisu, Kumawu and nearby areas.
Part of the GH¢29.5 million will also go into the construction of a power switching station at Adansi Asokwa aimed at helping to improve service delivery of the ECG so that customers will be better served.
Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, addressing journalists in Kumasi, stated that his outfit was determined to improve power supply in the Ashanti Region and make the frequent power cuts a thing of the past.
To help achieve its target, he announced that the ECG had decided to spend more to improve power supply so that customers would no longer complain about power cuts, with its attendant problems.
“Our prime aim is to correct all the faults that have been detected in the system, which usually leads to frequent power cuts, and that is why we have decided to spend this amount to make sure that our customers feel good,†he said.
The ECG MD, who was in Kumasi on Friday with some other officials of the company, said “ECG cherishes its customers and very soon their services would see massive improvement.â€
Old Transformers
He said ECG had realized that most of its transformers in the Ashanti Region were old and could not perform well “so plans are in place to replace them with new ones.â€
Mr. Agyeman-Budu also said faulty cables, insulators and other ageing equipment in the Ashanti Region, which were obstructing effective power supply, would be replaced without delay.
New Machines
According to him, the ECG had secured a new technology called VIT to easily detect faults, isolate and fix them without plunging an entire area into darkness.
He said ECG staff would henceforth use conductors to repair faults.
Mr. Agyeman-Budu stated that it was never the intention of the ECG to frequently plunge its customers into darkness, lamenting that the ECG even lost a lot of money whenever power supply was cut.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has begun a three-hour power cut to some parts of Accra for the next six days to enable it relocate transformers to a new site.
It said explained that as part of the relocation of 145MVA transformers from the Tema Port to the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point construction site, it will have to isolate some high voltage overhead lines.
Accordingly, electricity supply to persons in Tema, Klagon, Spintex, Trasacco, Dzorwulu, Achimota, and Ofankor will be cut from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m each day from Friday to next Thursday, May 14.
The Pokuase Bulk Supply Point is expected to supply and stabilise power and also reduce the technical and commercial losses of transmission to Pokuase, and its surrounding communities.
It is expected to directly benefit 350,000 people.
The $60 million dollar project was funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation under the supervision of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA).
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced, certain areas in the capital, Accra, will experience power outages for a period of six days, starting today, May 8, 2020.
In a statement put out by ECG, the company stated, power interruption in these areas will be between the hours of 10pm and 1am and end on Thursday, May 14, 2020.
ECG explained, the six day period would be used to convey some transformers from the Tema Port to the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) construction site.
“The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited wishes to inform the general public, especially our cherished customers in the under-listed areas that, to ensure safe conveyance of 145MVA transformers from the Tema Ports to the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point, the company will have to isolate some High Voltage overhead lines,†ECG said.
Areas to be affected include Ofankor, Tema, Klagon, Spintex, Trasacco, Dzorwulu and Achimota.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced that parts of Accra will experience power outages for some days, starting today, May 8, 2020.
In a statement, ECG said the power outages, locally known as dumsor, will last till Thursday, May 14, 2020.
Some parts of Accra will, therefore, experience power cuts between 10pm and 1am for the next six days.
The company said it will use the period to convey some transformers from the Tema Port to its Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) construction site.
Meanwhile, the areas to be affected include Ofankor, Tema, Klagon, Spintex, Trasacco, Dzorwulu and Achimota.
“The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited wishes to inform the general public, especially our cherished customers in the under-listed areas that, to ensure safe conveyance of 145MVA transformers from the Tema Ports to the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) construction site, the company will have to isolate some High Voltage overhead lines,†ECG said.
“In this regard, there will be planned outages from Friday 8th May 2020 to Thursday, 14th May 2020 between 10:00 pm and 1:00 am each day.â€
The power distribution company added that it deeply regrets any inconveniences that will be caused.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced power cuts in parts of Accra beginning, Friday, May 8, 2020.
According to the ECG, the planned power outages is to enable the company to convey some transformers from the Tema Port to its Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) construction site.
Tema, Klagon, Spintex, Trasacco, Dzorwulu, Achimota, and Ofankor, are some of the areas to be affected by the power cuts.
“The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited wishes to inform the general public, especially our cherished customers in the under-listed areas that, to ensure safe conveyance of 145MVA transformers from the Tema Ports to the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP) construction site, the company will have to isolate some High Voltage overhead lines.
In this regard, there will be planned outages from Friday 8th May 2020 to Thursday, 14th May 2020 between 10:00 pm and 1:00 am each day.â€
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says the recent power outages within its distribution network that hit some parts of the Greater Accra today, April 26, 2020 was a result of heavy rainstorms.
According to a communique by the power distribution company, its engineers are working assiduously to rectify the faults and restore power supply to affected customers in due course.
“Customers experiencing outages within their individual premises should kindly contact our call center on 0302611611, report to the nearest ECG office or reach us on our social media handle @ecgofficial,†the communique said.
The ECG, however, says the inconvenience to its customers, is very much regretted.
Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) Ebenezer Amankwah, says the statement released by the Electricity Company of Ghana concerning the recent power outages is unfortunate.
The ECG put out a statement yesterday saying that the outages that were experienced in Accra and other places were down to a technical challenge from GRIDCo.
Mr Amankwah says it will be best for both parties to work together and not engage in blame games which will yield nothing.
“It was unfortunate that the ECG will put such a statement out, as far as I am concerned blame games are not the hallmark of effective coordination and leadership. As key players in the power value chain it is appropriate we are always in contact and connected in terms of information flow because the public is looking to us for direction and credibility as far as power is concerned”.
He also explained why the light suddenly went off in most parts of Accra on March 16, 2020.
“Yesterday there was a schedule performance test on a new regulating gas station in Tema, so this led to a cessation of gas supply to some power plants in Tema, also as part of the test, Sunon Asogli plant was to shut down at 9 am and restart at 10 am but it encountered some difficulties, so these two incidents led to prolonged outages in the country yesterday,” he told Joy
There were prolonged power outages in most part of Accra on March 16, this many fear ‘dumsor’ is returning but the Energy Minister has calm fears.
GRIDCo undertakes economic dispatch and transmission of electricity from wholesale suppliers (generating companies) to bulk customers, which include the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and the Mines.
The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Kwame Agyemang Badu, has denied claims that recent power outages in the country are as a result of financial difficulties facing the energy sector.
According to him, the gas pipeline from Tema to Takoradi is currently undergoing maintenance, causing erratic power supply.
Ghanaians in the past weeks have complained about the frequent power outages and have demanded a load shedding timetable from the ECG.
Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Agyemang Badu assured that the situation will be stabilized by the end of the week.
“The power shedding that has been going on is due to some maintenance that we are doing on our pipeline from Tema to Takoradi so it is not a monetary issue.We have the number of generation companies that are willing to provide us with power but the problem is we are doing some maintenance so the power that is supposed to come from Nigeria is not coming. You cannot let power flow while doing maintenance. It has nothing to do with money. We promise the good citizens of Ghanaians that by the end of this week everything will be done and things will go back to normal,†Mr. Badu explained.
Power supply to normalize soon
A Deputy Energy Minister, William Owuraku-Aidoo recently also stated that the erratic power supply being experienced in some parts of the country should stabilize soon.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Owuraku-Aidoo, said the state is “looking at just a matter of days to bring this whole problem to an end.â€
The Deputy Minister had explained that challenges with an ongoing pigging exercise “is what is creating the problems that we are encountering right now.â€
Pipeline pigging is a concept in pipeline maintenance that involves the use of devices known as pigs, which clean pipelines and are capable of checking pipeline condition. This process is done without necessarily interfering with the flow of product in the pipe.
Describing the encountered problems as unexpected, he noted the exercise has taken out over a 1,000 megawatts from the Tema area.
As part of plans to face out the none smart prepaid meters in the Western Region, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has begun a mass replacement exercise to install the newly introduced smart prepayment meters.
The mass replacement exercise is currently concentrating on Effiakuma in the Effia-Kwesimintim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) due to the frequent losses the company incurs through illegal connections coupled with the commercial nature of the area.
This was made known by Mr. Benjamin Quarcoo, Western Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of ECG in an interview.
He explained that majority of the prepaid meters in the Sekondi-Takoradi-Agona areas are not smart, however, new applicants are given the new smart meters while customers whose meters have developed faults and needs replacement are given the new smart meters.
He pointed out that the prepayment meters were introduced to minimize the losses in the system.
According to him, electronic meters work within a particular period of time after which they become outmoded hence, the need to replace them and for that matter, the replacement process would be extended to cover the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly (AWMA) gradually.
He enlightened that the new smart meters come with Mobile Application (ECG Mobile App) which can be used to make payment on all postpaid metered accounts and selected smart prepayment meters in the system.
He was of the hope that the new smart meters would enable the company clamp down on customers who tempers with the meters and engage in all forms of illegality on the meters since he could monitor and trace the meters from his office.
As part of plans to face out the none smart prepaid meters in the Western Region, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has begun a mass replacement exercise to install the newly introduced smart prepayment meters.
The mass replacement exercise is currently concentrating on Effiakuma in the Effia-Kwesimintim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) due to the frequent losses the company incurs through illegal connections coupled with the commercial nature of the area.
This was made known by Mr. Benjamin Quarcoo, Western Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of ECG in an interview.
He explained that majority of the prepaid meters in the Sekondi-Takoradi-Agona areas are not smart, however, new applicants are given the new smart meters while customers whose meters have developed faults and needs replacement are given the new smart meters.
He pointed out that the prepayment meters were introduced to minimize the losses in the system.
According to him, electronic meters work within a particular period of time after which they become outmoded hence, the need to replace them and for that matter, the replacement process would be extended to cover the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly (AWMA) gradually.
He enlightened that the new smart meters come with Mobile Application (ECG Mobile App) which can be used to make payment on all postpaid metered accounts and selected smart prepayment meters in the system.
He was of the hope that the new smart meters would enable the company clamp down on customers who tempers with the meters and engage in all forms of illegality on the meters since he could monitor and trace the meters from his office.
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has announced that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is piloting an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system which when fully operational will completely eliminate electricity stealing in the entire country.
Addressing a ceremony at the ECG head office to officially launch the ECG Mobile Application (ECG POWER), the Vice President noted that the greatest challenge in the energy sector is its inability to collect revenue due her after supplying electricity to the consuming public.
“If we produce power and we are only able to collect sixty percent (60%) of the revenue, it means we have lost 40% of the revenue. The issue of solving the collection problem at ECG is a major part of solving the energy issue in Ghana,†Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia said.
He further indicated that he is aware that the board and Management of ECG are looking at applying technology in the collection process of it revenue.
“I know they are piloting a system now and by the Grace of God if all goes well we will have implemented a new system starting this year whereby nobody will be able to steal electricity in Ghana again†Dr Bawumia noted.
ECG Board Chairman
Chairman of the Board of Directors of ECG Kelly Gadzekpo, in his remarks registered the delight of ECG to her Information Technology (IT) staff who he solely credited as those who developed the entire infrastructure of the new app, ECG POWER.
He also emphasized that an effective monitoring system has been instituted by the ECG to ensure that revenue generated by the App will be secured and guaranteed.
ECG Power App
The new ECG application (ECG POWER) had been introduced to bring convenience to electricity consumers in the country. Essentially, the App can be used by ECG customers who have Smart Prepayment Meters to recharge their electricity credit any time of the day as well as do same for family and friends. It has a mobile wallet payment options and consumption information for the App user. Prepaid topups can be made through the App and payment can also be made with the App for post paid meters.
Head of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Appiah in December 2017 disclosed that the utility company was creating an app that will enable its customers to purchase prepaid credits online.
The move was aimed at facilitating the purchasing process as well as prevent customers from joining long queues at vending points anytime they want to buy prepaid credit.
With the app, customers would pay for their electricity bills as well as make a purchase for another.
According to him, his outfit got the inspiration to design the app after the utility company was faced with a server challenge that left about 30,000 customers sleeping in darkness.
It is quite unclear yet what ECG app Dr Bawumia spoke about when he made the statements about a launch on February 18, but the vice president during his Town Hall meeting in Kumasi Tuesday announced that government will launch a mobile app that will enable ECG customers buy prepaid credits on their phones without necessarily moving to the vendor to make a purchase.
This initiative is part of government’s plan to digitise the economy.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is opting to start the payment of prepaid electricity credit through a mobile application.
Head at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Appiah says the move will facilitate the fast purchase of credit so that customers will not have to move distances to buy prepaid credit.
“Going forward, the company intends to ensure that all ECG payment metering system will be smart devoid of customers visiting vending points, but instead utilizing a mobile application to purchase credit online,†he said.
What this means is that customers will also be able to pay their electricity bills through a mobile application.
This move by the ECG follows recent challenges on the company’s server which has left about 30,000 ECG customers in some parts of Accra without power for days.
Affected arrears suffering the challenge has seen residents of Dansoman, Korle Bu, Achimota and Kaneshie manage to live in the dark since Monday, December 4th. As at Tuesday, the number of persons reporting at the ECG for clarification om the development has reached over a hundred affected customers.
YEN.com.gh has learnt that about four distressed customers have collapsed in the scramble for electricity units at the ECG office in Accra. According to Myjoyonline.com, the men “fell one after the other and were rushed to the nearest hospitalâ€.
Meanwhile, general manager of ECG Revenue Protection, David Asamoah has assured customers of an immediate resolution of the matter.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)in the Eastern Region has retrieved about GH?949,000.00 from detected illegal connections in the Region last year.
The amount represents penalties and surcharges slapped on customers who were caught using electricity illegally in the year 2019.
Speaking to the media in Koforidua yesterday, the Acting Revenue Protection Manager, Mr Sylvester Ofosu Amankwaah, stated that customers who were caught engaging in illegal connection in the region include Hotel Operators, restaurants owners, cold store operators, drinking pubs owners, individuals and some Media houses.
He explained that the types of illegal connections detected include; Meter tampering, Meter By-pass, illegal self-reconnection and illegal direct connection.
According to Mr. Ofosu Amankwaah, the Revenue Protection Unit of the ECG in the region on their monitoring exercise visited 4,014 meters last year and detected 16 unauthorised service connection, two illegal direct connection, 29 meters tampered, 176 faulty meters and 111 meters on wrong tariff class. “Meters that were identified to be on wrong tariff classes were corrected and the identified faulty meters replacedâ€, he added.
Mr. Ofosu Amankwaah stated that through the monitoring exercise, ECG was able to recover about 1,196,681KWh units of electricity which were lost through illegal connections and that the total units recovered translated into GH?1,203,878 of which an amount of GH?949,116 has been retrieved from customers.
The Regional General Manager of ECG, Ing. Michael Baah stated that the Eastern Regional Office of ECG has initiated series of revenue protection activities aimed at unearthing illegalities in the system and reducing power losses due to power theft. “If we are able to reduce commercial losses, we could achieve the system losses benchmark of 20 per cent by the end of the year 2020â€, he said.
Ing. Michael Baah stated that it is a crime to steal power and that customers who are caught in such acts would be prosecuted. “Anyone found culpable of illegal connection will face the law†he added.
He, therefore, cautioned customers to desist from illegal connection and endeavour to pay their bills.
He also encouraged members of the general public to voluntarily report any suspected illegal connection to the nearest ECG office and said “ECG will reward informants of illegal connectionâ€.
The Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG) has recouped over GH¢1million after more than one hundred defaulters were arrested during the festive period across the country.
The power distributor has indicated that it will intensify its unannounced night swoops to clamp down on illegal power consumers throughout the year.
The ECG Taskforce stormed some hotels and night clubs to arrest customers engaged in power theft and illegal connection which is said to be costing the utility company over $238million annually.
“Electricity Company of Ghana is suffering a lot from power theft, our system losses constitute about %24.6 of our losses and %1 of these losses translates into approximately $17million,†General Manager of Revenue Protection, Michael Twum Barimah said.
He added that the unannounced visitations will be undertaken at night wherever electricity is being used and with the aid of the Taskforce ECG is bent on crushing on power theft.
The power company said residents in the capital should expect the interruption of their power supply from from Monday, December 16 to Friday, December 20.
In a communique, ECG said the power cuts will allow its engineers to undertake some emergency maintenance.
“ECG regrets the inconvenience that will arise out of this exercise,†statement issued by ECG on Sunday said.
The affected areas will be without light from the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m in each of the five days.
The areas that will be affected by the power cuts are Taifa, Dzorwulu, Kwabenya, Valley View, Oyibi, Teshie,Sowutuom, Achobo Best, Peace FM, Santana Market, Baah Yard, Masalachi, Awoshie, A Lang, Nsawam, Gbawe, Mallam, Dzorwulu, Abelenkpe, Plant Pool and Dimples.
An electrical technician who stole six single-phase prepaid electricity meters belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and sold them has been convicted and sentenced by an Accra circuit court. John Afadi, 27, was convicted on his plea of guilty to eight counts, including interfering with the ECG system and stealing.
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He was fined 400 penalty units, representing GH¢4,800 or in default spend two years in hard labour in prison.
The court, presided over by Mrs Afia Agbanu, asked Afadi to pay GH¢2,000 as compensation after hearing the facts of the case.
Presenting the facts of the case, the Manager of the ECG Prosecution Unit, Mr Paul Assisi Abariga, said the Kasoa North District Technical Officer of ECG alerted the police after he received complaints from some individuals who claimed ECG meters installed in their homes developed faults shortly after it had been installed by Afadi.
He said in a April 2019, Afadi sold and installed a meter to the first victim at a cost of GH¢800 but the victim found that the meter was not working so he contacted Afadi to find out why but he failed to solve the problem.
In the same month, Afadi sold another meter at a cost of GH¢1,000 to the second victim and it was also found to be faulty.
The third victim also bought a meter from Afadi at GH¢1,060 while Afadi also sold a meter to the fourth victim at the cost of GH¢1,200.
The court heard that when the buyers detected the faults on the meters and contacted Afadi, he failed to fix the problem and avoided their calls.
The Dansoman District Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has, since January this year, retrieved more than GH¢200,000 from customers who were using electricity illegally.
The Dansoman District Manager of the ECG, Mr Vincent Osei-Appiah, told the Daily Graphic that a special monitoring team set up to audit electrical connections in factories, warehouses and workshops led to the uncovering of the canker.
“The identified customers were engaged in illegalities such as direct connections, meter tampering and meter bypass,†he said.
He added that following the success achieved by the task force so far, the scope of its operations would be expanded to include all categories of customers in the district.
The Dansoman District is one of seven operational districts of the ECG in the Accra West Region.
Warning
The acting General Manager, Accra West Region of the ECG, Mr Emmanuel Ankomah, warned that the region would wage a relentless “war†on all illegal activities as the Christmas season beckoned.
“We want to make the Accra West Region the model for others to emulate. Special measures, including strategic partnerships with the security agencies, have been taken to identify, surcharge and rectify all illegal connections in the region,†he said.
Mr Ankomah advised ECG customers to report any suspected illegal connection to the nearest ECG office and pledged that aside from the identity of the whistleblower being protected, “there is a cash reward for the informantâ€.
The Volta Aluminum Company (VALCo) owes the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) US$32million, President of the GRIDCo Staff Union, Raphael Kornor, has said at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, November 21.
He added that as of March 1, 2019, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) similarly owed GRIDCo about GHC607million.
The workers are, therefore, calling on authorities to ensure that these monies owed GRIDCo are paid.
Mr Kornor indicated that staff will on Friday, November 29, 2019, stage a demonstration over 32 million owed the company by key stakeholders in the energy sector.
The workers said they will match en mass to the Electricity Company of Ghana Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO) and the Ministry of Finance in demand of unsettled debts.
The workers who have commenced an industrial action by withdrawing all emergency services on Thursday, November 21, 2019, have been directed by leadership of the Union not to provide any further services beyond the official working hours at 4.
Members have also been directed to hoist red flags raising signals of turbulent times ahead for the energy sector.
The Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG) is to be listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has announced.
Presenting the budget statement and financial policy of the government of Ghana for the year ending 31st December 2020, he said “Government will make every effort to avoid the pitfalls that the PDS concession encountered and institute broad Ghanaian institutional participation, as well as democratize local equity participation, with an eventual listing on the Ghana Stock Exchangeâ€.
He also added that a well-executed partnership between ECG and the “right†technical and financial partners, will certainly improve the distribution capabilities and enhance end-user experiences.
To this end, heightened scrutiny will be brought to bear in the design and implementation of the financial and technical evaluation criteria to ensure that interested bidders not only have credibility and extensive experience in operating and managing a comparable electricity utility but also possess the financial wherewithal to make the requisite investments in ECG, he noted.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has assured the general public that agitations among its staff will not affect the smooth operation and quality of the service already being enjoyed by Ghanaians.
“Management wishes to assure staff, the general public, and all stakeholders that in collaboration with the Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU), the current situation will not interfere with the core mandate of the company: to deliver safe, quality and reliable power to our cherished customersâ€.
A statement signed by the Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, said even though the issues have been observed mainly at the Higher levels of management, efforts are being put in place to address the situation across all levels.
The newly-appointed Chief Executive of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, has over 28 years of work experience in the energy industry.
Below is the profile of the man who has been named as the successor of Ing. Samuel Boakye-Appiah, with immediate effect.
The Energy Commission has granted the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) the Electricity Brokerage Licence to enable it to sell electricity in bulk to consumers after the earlier license issued to Power Distribution Services (PDS) was canceled.
A statement issued by the Board of the Energy Commission said PDS and ECG were to facilitate a smooth transition process to ensure that customers were not adversely affected.
It said the Commission, therefore informs the public that based on communication from ECG, the Demand Guarantees submitted by PDS to ECG in respect of the Lease and Assignment Agreement (LAA) between the two companies were null and void.
It said the Commission per the provisions of Section 19 of the Energy Commission Act, 1997 (Act 541), has canceled the Electricity Distribution Licence No. EC/EDL/02-19001 and the Electricity Sale Licence No. EC/ESL/02-19-001 issued to PDS with effect from 23rd October 2019.
Why the deal was terminated
PDS was in July 2019 found to have presented invalid insurance security for the takeover of ECG assets.
The company was initially supposed to furnish the ECG with payment securities in the form of either a demand guarantee or a letter of credit issued by a bank.
The insurance guarantee came about because of difficulties experienced with raising a bank guarantee.
PDS appealed to use a demand guarantee issued by an A-rated insurance company.
PDS thus submitted the Payment Securities in the form of demand guarantees issued by a Qatari insurance firm, Al Koot Insurance, and Reinsurance, which eventually became the source fraud after it was discovered that there were fabricated letters and forged signatures.
The government also noted that Al Koot could not engage in such a transaction-based on its net worth.
The company was also not authorized to issue demand guarantees.
The Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) has terminated the Private Sector Participation Transaction Agreements with Power Distribution Services Ghana Limited (PDS).
ECG has therefore assumed full operational and financial control of the electricity distribution business in the Southern Zone of Ghana with immediate effect, a statement issued by the company on Wednesday, October 23, said.
Consequently, all activities including metering, billing, distribution and reconciliation of bills, revenue collection and new service connections, which were hitherto undertaken by PDS have reverted to ECG, the statement added.
He other activities are
Disconnections and reconnections
Faulty meter replacements
Network faults and repairs
Network Operations, Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation
Complaints and fault reporting to the call centres and any other related services
In this regard, all payments in respect of power purchases and other related activities should take place at ECG Regional and District Offices, ECG existing Customer Service Centres, ECG licensed vending stations, ECG operated cash points and ECG authorised Banks.
The statement added that, all assets currently in the name of PDS revert to ECG with immediate effect and will be rebranded in accordance with the decision over the next few weeks.
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