Bismark Otoo (left) speaking at the press conference
The Accra East Region of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has commenced mass replacement of Nuri and other obsolete meters with the Alpha TND new MMS compliant meters within its operational areas.
The exercise which commenced yesterday, is aimed among others, at addressing the myriad of issues customers have experienced with the ageing meters currently in use, including inaccurate billing, frequent power outages, and difficulties in recharging prepaid meters.
Over 250,000 Nuri and other obsolete meters are expected to be replaced in all districts of the Accra East Region of ECG during the exercise.
Accra East ECG Regional General Manager, Ing. Bismark Otoo, at a press briefing yesterday indicated that the new meters will also improve revenue collection of the company as well as address commercial losses, enhance customers’ service delivery and satisfaction as well as ensuring confidence in the company’s metering system.
A total of 370 meters are expected to be replaced daily in each district while all outstanding credit balance will be transferred to new meters within 48 hours of replacement.
Similarly, all debts on old postpaid meters would be transferred onto new meters for onward payment.
Mr. Otoo said the new meters which are part of ECG’s broader strategy to modernise its infrastructure, come equipped with features that are expected to offer multiple benefits to both the company and its customers.
These include enhanced accuracy, remote monitoring, improved energy management and reduced tampering as the new meters are equipped with anti-tampering mechanisms, which will help curb illegal connections and reduce losses due to electricity theft.
Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama said the new meters are MMS compliant and very visible on the dashboard in their offices hence they would be able to detect any form of tampering.
“Please don’t tamper with these metres because we will know. There’s been a huge revenue leakage and across the country we have to change close to 1.5 million metres as quickly as possible,” he said.
He also apologised to customers whose metres have been reading negative balances, adding that the company is doing its best to close the gap as quickly as possible, while calling in customers to report such issues.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak