The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has issued a notice on their plan to begin an audit of all meters.
The company in a statement said any customers who are caught stealing electricity after the moratorium will be charged with stealing in accordance with the law and “their names shall also be published widely”.
Customers are to report to ECG’s District/Regional offices for any of the underlisted issues during the period of the moratorium:
Postpaid customers who have meters but do not receive bills
Prepaid customers who do not purchase electricity credits
Customers whose meters are faulty
Customers who have by-passed or tampered with their meters and are therefore not paying for the full cost of power usage
Customers who have engaged in any form of electrical illegality, etc.
As part of the audit, teams of ECG officials will be deployed to update customer information.
Some parts of Accra will experience power outage as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) undertakes planned maintenance works today.
The power distribution company in a circular noted that the maintenance work will commence from 9am to 4pm.
The areas to be affected are; Pantang, Bola, Abokobi, Akpoman, Boiman, Sesemi, Adjagonte and Ofankor.
The exercise, according to the power distribution company, is to improve service delivery in the aforementioned areas.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghana has apologised to Ghanaians living in the affected areas for the inconvenience that will arise out of this exercise.
The Volta Region Revenue Taskforce of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), in a clampdown exercise has recouped more than GHC1.5 million to the Company.
The money was accrued from clients in arrears and those engaged in illegal power theft through surcharges.
The exercise, which begun early this year, in its catchment areas across Volta and Oti Regions took the operation to households, hostels, hotels, cold stores, pubs, restaurants and government institutions, who owed the company to comply with settlement of debts or power terminated.
The task forcehas visited customers in Ho, Denu, Sogakope and Kpando Districts and are set to visit about 100 debtors to ensure they settle their debts.
Mr Emmanuel Lumor, the Volta Regional General Manager of ECG, speaking to the media, said the directorates are replicating “the inauguration of the national taskforce by the Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to help the Company retrieve monies owed it by some customers and to curb the menace of illegal connection.â€
He said the Revenue Taskforce empowered by LI 2413, allows the Company to disconnect clients who refuse to pay their bills within 14 days after receiving the bill.
He added that the taskforce has also served some institutions disconnection notices in accordance with LI 2413, giving them three days to settle their debt or face disconnection.
The General Manager said two such tertiary institutions responded with dispatch to settle their indebtedness after receiving notices of disconnection and warned clients who remained adamant would be taken off the national grid, until they do the needful.
He said the Company has intensified stakeholder engagements including announcements and radio education to sensitise customers on the need to pay their bills promptly to help ECG serve them better.
Mr Lumor disclosed some illegalities uncovered during the ongoing exercise to include meter bypass, unauthorised and direct connections, and meter tampering.â€
He bemoaned how illegal connections by some customers affected the financial strength of the Company, which hinders it from undertaking capital intensive projects that would inure to the benefit of customers.
“As a Company, we have to pay power producers when we purchase power from them to distribute to our cherished customers, hence consuming power illegally prevents the Company from generating money to pay these key players on the electricity supply chain,†he said.
According to Mr Lumor, illegal connection affects the distribution system by overloading transformers, which eventually leads to the breakdown of transformers and causes outages.
He cautioned the public to do the right thing through prompt payment of bills and desist from illegal acts such as meter bypass since it is a criminal and dangerous act, which could cause fire outbreak and the loss of life through electrocution.
Mr Lumor announced that the Company has the authority to prosecute persons engaged in such illegal acts within ECG network by an Executive Instrument (EI) 38 of the Appointment of Public Prosecution Instrument (2010).
He called on the public in general to support the Company in its fight against illegal connection by reporting people who engaged in such acts to the nearest ECG office or call the national taskforce via telephone number 0551444011 and indicated that it comes with a financial reward.
“There is a six per cent commission of any amount we recoup as an incentive for anyone who gave us reliable information to unearth any illegality,†he said.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (EGG) has indicated that it will not adjust tariffs beyond 10% in the future should the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) approve its pending proposal.
The company is requesting a 148% increment in tariffs, which the PURC is yet to either approve or disapprove.
At a stakeholder engagement on the proposals on Wednesday, May 11, Sylvia Noshie, General Manager for Regulatory Management at ECG, stated that the company is looking forward to having the PURC approve its proposal; something that will go a long way to help enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
She added that some technical and commercial losses also accounted for the increased proposal.
Sylvia Noshie further explained that increased tariffs were, “partly as a result of an accumulated adjustment for the past four years.”
She noted that Ghanaians will pay more than the 148% next year if the PURC disapproves of the current proposal.
“If PURC approved the 148%, there will be an average yearly increment of 7%,” Sylvia Noshie said as part of ECG’s projections.
The Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo has refuted claims that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) disconnected power to Parliament due to outstanding debt.
According to her, even though Parliament suffered power outages on Wednesday, the power cut was due to an internal fault.
“My conversation with the head of the Development Department shows that there was no such disconnection. On Wednesday, we had two power trips, and it had nothing to do with ECG coming to disconnect power from parliament,†citinewroom.com reports
Her comment comes after a visit by ECG to Parliament on Wednesday, April 27, to serve them following failure to pay some bill arrears.
The exercise according to ECG was due to the indebtedness of the House.
Even though the amount owed was not stated, the report indicates that Parliament has a huge debt of over several million cedis.
It is based on this Kate Addo has denied claims that the ECG had disconnected Parliament power.
The Electricity Company of Ghana loses nearly GHS3.2 billion due to illegal connections, and non-payment of bills, among others, according to the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Dr. Prempeh said the ECG losses were from “our inability to pay, unwillingness to pay or power theft.â€
He assured that the National Revenue Protection Taskforce was “out in full swing†to remedy this challenge with revenue.
“The National Revenue Protection Taskforce is going out because the amount of energy ECG is putting in the system, it is not getting the commensurate amount of money back to ensure that it becomes commercially viable.â€
“So if ECG loses 400 million dollars, averagely…which company can be viable if you continue to lose the amount of money that the ECG losses,†Dr. Prempeh quizzed.
He stressed that “every Ghanaian must be responsible and pay for the energy he or she consumes, or else you will be visited by the Revenue Protection Taskforce.â€
The Electricity Company of Ghana recently indicated its readiness to go after about 30 private and public institutions that owe it GHS 120 million.
Some of these institutions owe as much as about GHS 45 million and have not shown any commitment despite receiving disconnection notices from ECG, according to Citi News sources.
The institutions include the Ghana Airport, University of Ghana, Accra International Conference Center (AICC), Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Parliament.
Two persons, who posed as staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and allegedly extorted money from some customers have been arrested.
  The suspects, Richard Nii Moi and Edward Quartey, were sent to the Israel Police Station near Sowutuom in Accra.
Narrating the incident, the ECG Achimota District Manager, Mrs Mary Kpordzih, said the suspects posed as revenue collector and disconnection officer of the company and allegedly extorted money from some customers who could not show receipts of recent payments of their ECG bills.
Operation
“Their mode of operation however got some of the residents suspicious and so they quizzed them and demanded to see their identification cards, adding that they were unconvincing in their responses so the residents raised an alarm and reported their activities to the office,” she said.
The two were subsequently traced, arrested and sent to the police station for them to be investigated.
Commendation
Mrs Kpordzih commended the residents for their vigilance and charged customers to verify the identity of persons who visited their premises claiming to be staff of the company.
“Where you are in doubt, always report suspicious persons to the nearest ECG office or to the police station,” she added.
Revenue collection
The Electricity Company of Ghana has in recent times increased its revenue collection activities. These activities include the commissioning of a National Revenue Taskforce to clampdown on customers engaged in illegality.
A special task force of the Electricity Company of Ghana has gone after some two companies found to have been engaging in illegal power connections.Â
The two companies, which are; Samnort Company Limited located in Nsawam and Concrete Jungle and Wellness located at Cantonments in Accra have since been surcharged GH¢62,000 and GH¢256,008.2 respectively for the power theft.Â
According to the Public Relations Officer of the ECG for Accra-East, Mary Eshun-Oppong said, “Both companies will be made to pay all outstanding debts plus the fine for illegal connection before the matter is handed over to the police for further actionâ€.
She revealed that Samnort which operates as a sachet water producing company was engaged in an illegal meter bypass while Concrete Jungle Wellness which operates a restaurant was engaged in a similar act involving a 3-meter illegal bypass through a changeover connection.Â
Marry Eshun Oppong said the ECG discovered that both companies used power for a period spanning about 12 months which was unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, the ongoing checks by a special disconnection task force from the ECG is aimed at recovering debts from clients and curtail the rampant menace of illegal connections made by individuals and institutions on it’s distribution network.Â
In the past few weeks, the power distributing company has gone after some 27 public and private institutions which are heavily indebted to it.
The National Task Force of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited has cut power supply to parts of the Accra Sports Stadium debt owed to the company.
The Accra Sports Stadium was disconnected on Wednesday as part of efforts to reduce the debts of the company.
Nene Shadrack Mase, who led the task force, disclosed that the national stadium owed ECG GH¢587,087.37.
According to him, management of the stadium must pay one-fourth or 75% of the total debt for power to be restored.
He added that the rest of the debt will be scheduled and in the event of a default, the facility will be cut off again.
The facility is used by Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, and Accra Lions for their Ghana Premier League home games.
The task force also cut power to Kotoka International Airport, Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel due to debt concerns.
Workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana have kicked against the extension of the tenure of Managing Director, Kwame Agyemang Budu, warning the company will go bankrupt soon as it struggles for office stationery such as A4 sheets.
According to the workers, even though the MD has reached his mandatory retirement age of 60 there are moves to extend his stay in office.
Such a move the workers are warning will spell doom for the company given the level of mismanagement that has taken place under his leadership.
Addressing the media, the General Secretary for the Public Utility Workers Union, Michael Adumatta Nyamekye cautioned that the nation will soon be plunged into darkness should President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the ECG board fail to act immediately as the company will go bankrupt.
Mr. Adumatta also accused the board chairman of ECG Kelly Gadzekpo of usurping the powers of the MD for the selfish interests of board members.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghana has disconnected power to the Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport and other offices of the Ghana Airports Company over unpaid bills.
The disconnection exercise was undertaken by a National task force of the ECG Monday after the KIA failed to pay their indebtedness to the power distribution company.
Sources say KIA owes ECG close to GH¢49 million.
An attempt by the management of the KIA to pay the debt by cheque when the disconnection exercise was underway was rejected by the task force.
The Ashanti Regional office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has intervened to cause the refund of more than GH¢200,000 to 25 customers in the region for “over billing” and other infractions.
The refund of GH¢207,513.98 was done by crediting the utility accounts of the customers with the full overcharged amount.
It followed series of complaints launched by the affected customers of both the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Subsequently, the PURC held a number of “settlement meetings” to have the two service providers to address the concerns of the affected customers.
The Regional Manager of the PURC, Francis Baidoo, told the Daily Graphic that the commission exercised its mandate in accordance with L.I. 2413 under the Customer Service Regulations, 2020.
The L.I. states, among others, that a public utility shall not overcharge a customer, and that if it did so, it should take steps to immediately credit the accounts of the affected persons.
Numbers
A total of 931 complaints were received by the PURC against the ECG, and 122 against the GWCL last year.
Mr Baidoo said the complaints included billing, payments, quality of service and metering but the most reported was quality of service.
The PURC observed that some illegal activities of customers resulted in network challenges as well as high and low voltage experiences leading to the destruction of domestic and industrial property.
Indeed, Mr Baidoo said self-reconnection led to the damage of lots of meters and property, and warned customers to refrain from such acts.
Barring any last minute changes, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will from Tuesday, February 1, 2022, slap new charges on electricity consumers.
According to a document in circulation among EGC staff, the company, will be charging a screaming GH¢1, 020.00 for a single phase meter, instead of the existing GH¢400.00.
The circular titled, “new service connection charges†said they are all VAT/NHIL inclusive, and mentioned that the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has approved the new charges.
It is not clear, why all the stakeholders have remained silent on the charges, but waiting to spring a surprise on consumers. Â
The only thing going for free on the new list, is Meter replacement for both 1-phase and 3-phase.
But new consumers interested in a three-phase meter, will pay GH¢1, 920, instead of the previous GH¢700.
The Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, has restored power to Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities in the Eastern region.
The power was restored at about 4:25 pm Sunday, December 12, 2021, exactly seven(7) days after the entire area was plunged into darkness.
The restoration of power was greeted with spontaneous wild jubilation by residents.
Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities were plunged into the darkness since Monday, December 6, 2021, following the decision by ECG to shut down the feeders to the Bulk Supply Point (BSP) which supplies power to the two Municipalities.
ECG explains the decision became necessary due to illegal connections by unscrupulous people on their transformers increasing the load.
A statement issued by ECG stated that “in view of the ongoing interference in our network as a result of the scaling down of our operations in the Krobo area which was necessitated by the threat to our staff, ECG has decided to shut down the feeders at the Bulk Supply Point (BSP) directly feeding the Communities in order to protect our network, lives, and properties of innocent customers and the general public within the lower Manya and Yilo Krobo communities.â€
The feeders were switched off a few hours after the power distributor closed down its district office in Somanya over safety concerns.
The week-long power outage crippled the local economy as businesses including cold stores, welding shops were struggling to operate.
The Member of Parliament for Yilo Krobo Albert Nyarkotey facilitated stakeholders meeting between ECG, traditional authorities in Yilo and Manya Krobo area as well as the youth Groups -Kloma Gbi and Kloma Hengme which some far-reaching resolutions were arrived at in the interests of both the Krobo Customers and the ECG.
The condition precedents and subsequent include the fact that there shall be a resolution from all Assembly members, in the two Municipalities together with the two Presiding Members to the effect that, ECG workers shall have access to ECG installations and meters in the communities as well as the homes of customers without obstruction from anyone. (This is currently being done by the two assemblies)
That, no individual or group shall attack any ECG installations be it transformers or meters within the affected areas.
That, a Technical team from ECG together with a team of both MP for Yilo and Manya would visit the affected sites of damaged ECG installations to assess the extent of the damage.
ECG shall immediately begin repair works on all broken/damaged installations in a bid to restore power to the affected Krobo Municipalities of Yilo and Manya.
Group Appeal
Meanwhile, a group calling itself Coalition of Krobo youth has promised to deploy 1000 youth from both Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities to provide 24-hour security to ECG workers so the company could return operations to the area.
Addressing the media on Thursday in Somanya, the group said the intervention has become necessary because the security agencies the Police and the National Intelligence Burea (NIB) have failed to arrest the miscreants of United Krobo Foundation threatening ECG officials and stoking conflict between the residents and the power distributor.
Speaking during a media briefing by the Coalition, the convener Frederick Narh Okley appealed to ECG to restore power to the two Municipalities whiles engagement continue.
The group condemned the ultimatum issued by United Krobo Foundation for ECG to vacate the Krobo area. They also described as untrue statement that Krobos do not want to pay bills and do not want Prepaid meters
IGP visit
The Inspector-General of Police(IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare on Friday, December 10, 2021, visited the Krobo area following Intelligence that some residents were planning to go on a rampage in protest against the deliberate power cut to the Municipalities.
The IGP warned trouble makers in the area to abort such plots and use due processes to address their grievances to avert falling foul of the law.
The IGP said the Police administration will not entertain lawlessness hence admonished residents to the responsible and law-abiding.
The Ashanti Strategic Business Unit (SBU) of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has raked in over GH¢1.4 million from illegal connection and power theft in the region.
This followed the launch of “Operation Collect or Correct,†in October, this year, to check illegal connections and non-payment of electricity bills by customers.
In all, the SBU recovered an amount of GH¢1,470,116.59 from power theft alone in the region.
Theft
The Communications Manager for Ashanti SBU, Mr. Erasmus Kyere Baidoo, told the Daily Graphic that power theft was rampant in the region as some residents tampered with their meters to illegally consume power.
In all, he said the Revenue Protection Unit visited 1,487 accounts and screened 1,040 of which 261 were found to have been involved in illegal connection.
He said the total amount of power to have been stolen by the 261 residents was around 1,946,795 kilowatts which amounted to about GH¢2, 045,682.46.
According to Mr. Baidoo, an amount of GH¢575, 000.00 was yet to be recovered from the affected residents.
Illegality
Some of the illegal acts recorded, according to him, were meter by-pass, meter tampering, unauthorised service connection, and damaging of meter.
Campaign
The Ashanti Strategic Business Unit (SBU) of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has raked in over GH¢1.4 million from illegal connection and power theft in the region.
This followed the launch of “Operation Collect or Correct,†in October, this year, to check illegal connections and non-payment of electricity bills by customers.
In all, the SBU recovered an amount of GH¢1,470,116.59 from power theft alone in the region.
Theft
The Communications Manager for Ashanti SBU, Mr. Erasmus Kyere Baidoo, told the Daily Graphic that power theft was rampant in the region as some residents tampered with their meters to illegally consume power.
In all, he said the Revenue Protection Unit visited 1,487 accounts and screened 1,040 of which 261 were found to have been involved in illegal connection.
He said the total amount of power to have been stolen by the 261 residents was around 1,946,795 kilowatts which amounted to about GH¢2, 045,682.46.
According to Mr. Baidoo, an amount of GH¢575, 000.00 was yet to be recovered from the affected residents.
Illegality
Some of the illegal acts recorded, according to him, were meter by-pass, meter tampering, unauthorised service connection, and damaging of meter.
Campaign
In the meantime, he said the SBU had intensified the campaign to arrest recalcitrant customers who have the penchant to steal electricity and deny the company its needed revenue.
In the meantime, he said the SBU had intensified the campaign to arrest recalcitrant customers who have the penchant to steal electricity and deny the company its needed revenue.
Residents of Old Ashongman Purewater, a suburb of Accra, are up in arms against the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, over a power outage.
One resident who spoke to GhanaWeb pointed that following some work on a transformer in their area, they have been without power since Monday, November 15, 2021.
Subsequently, a number of houses in the area opposite the Westbridge School in the area, have been in the dark.
She stated that they had severally called the local ECG office to come and rectify the issues but all efforts to that effect have proven futile.
“It’s been four solid days we are without lights. Yesterday I called the ECG office and someone told me we are complaining too much,” she lamented.
Residents of Old Ashongman Purewater, a suburb of Accra, are up in arms against the Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, over a power outage.
One resident who spoke to GhanaWeb pointed that following some work on a transformer in their area, they have been without power since Monday, November 15, 2021.
Subsequently, a number of houses in the area opposite the Westbridge School in the area, have been in the dark.
She stated that they had severally called the local ECG office to come and rectify the issues but all efforts to that effect have proven futile.
“It’s been four solid days we are without lights. Yesterday I called the ECG office and someone told me we are complaining too much,” she lamented.
She further bemoaned how food items she had bought were going to waste because of the outage stressing the impact on especially small and medium businesses in the area.
The Electricity of Ghana (ECG) has announced that persons who report others engaged in illegal connections will receive 6percent total sum % of the surcharged fee.
The power supply energy further assured informants of their security as their identities will be hidden on a confidentiality basis.
The announcement, made on Daily Graphic newspaper warned people engaged in power theft, stating that, the act is tantamount to the criminal offence.
ECG noted that it has the authority to prosecute persons engaged in such illegal acts within ECG network by an executive instrument (EI) 38 of the Appointment of Public Prosecution Instrument (2010).
It said, “Customers and the general public are therefore being cautioned to do the right thing and stop illegal connections since it amounts to a criminal offence and has dire consequences on the finances of the company, quality and reliable electricity supply and on the socio-economic development of the country.â€
“The general public are encouraged to report any act of illegal connection to the nearest ECG office or call the taskforce via telephone number 0551444011 for an informant reward of 6% of the surcharged amount upon confirmation of the crime. The identities of informants remain strictly confidential,†it added.
Meanwhile, Ghanaians have been advised to inspect the ID cards of ECG members when they visit their premises to inspect their metres.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Ashanti region has apologized to consumers for not coming out with a scheduled timetable during the recent power outages they witnessed in the region.
According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of ECG, Erasmus Baidoo, his outfit was unable to release a timetable for some parts of the region during the power cuts months ago.
Erasmus Baidoo noted that despite the public backlash, there’s been a considerable change in the situation.
Speaking on Asaase radio, the P.R.O explained that, “Sometimes we have most areas going off and another time we have quite a number going off and that has been the situation, but as I said over the past few weeks, we have seen some level of improvement.â€
He added: “We are hoping that it will keep improving until we are over it. So we apologise sincerely for the inability to come out with a timetable,†she added.
He noted that the maintenance work carried out is nearing completion.
It would be recalled that residents in the Ashanti region had in the few months bemoaned the high rate of power outages in the region.
The residents lamented that their lights go off unannounced, an issue that angered them.
Customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) were on Monday 26 April left stranded in parts of Ghana following a staff sit-down strike.
The workers are demanding the immediate dismissal of their MD, Kwame Agyemang-Budu, claiming that he has failed to live up to expectation since he assumed office for about two years now, describing him as “visionlessâ€.
Checks at the Kumasi office of ECG indicate that some essential services have been suspended leaving some customers stranded. Some customers have expressed their frustrations over the development.
“This morning I came to lodge a complaint. I am having issues with my prepaid, I came to the reception, only for them to tell me they are on strike and I really need the service seriously because the way my meter credit has been running it needs an urgent attention,†he said.
“If I had the information earlier I would have gone to work and come later… It is really disturbing because recently we have been experiencing “dumsor†and to access their service too is becoming a challenge.â€
Standoff
It would be recalled that some aggrieved workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) last two weeks called for the dismissal of Agyeman-Budu by 23 April.
A statement issued by the workers said the continuous stay of Agyeman-Budu in office will lead to the collapse of the company.
The statement added “considering the aforementioned, the joint NEC recognizes that the continuous stay in office of the Managing Director in the person of Mr. Kwame Agyeman- Budu is gradually leading to the collapse of the Company. Accordingly, the joint NEC resolves the immediate removal of the Managing Director from office.â€
“Please take note that if by the close of work on Friday, April 23rd, 2021, there is no appropriate action, we shall advise ourselves.â€
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.
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