ECG introduces prepaid metering in Tarkwa

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), is to introduce smart prepayment metering system to replace the existing postpaid metering system in communities within the Tarkwa-Bogoso area of the Western Region.

This exercise is in line with the ECG’s policy of systematically replacing most of its post-paid meters to prepayment meters.

As part of the preparations towards the roll out of the programme, all the major stakeholders including the Chiefs, Opinion leaders, and Security Agencies will be briefed on the exercise.

The new system, is intended to boost revenue for the company as well as provide an effective tool for ECG and Customers to manage existing customer debts and also control future occurrences.

Speaking at the meeting in the Conference Hall of the Western Regional Office in Takoradi, Mr. Abraham Anokye Abebreseh, the General Manager for the region described the introduction of smart prepaid metering in the Sekondi-Takoradi area as a remarkable success in the Company’s revenue collection efforts; and that effort by Management to extend the exercise to other areas is a step in the right direction.

“The prepaid metering system encourages and support consumers to be more receptive to energy conservation practices which it eventually leads to savings in revenue for a happier customer. It then becomes a win-win situation for both ECG and its Customers” he said.

“The era of uncollected billed revenue will soon become something of the past,” he added.

Briefing stakeholders on the features of the smart prepayment meters, Ing. Sariel Etwire, General Manager for Metering and Technical Services of ECG, hinted that the meters will come with additional features which will provide a higher level of transparency in the measurement of electricity thus reducing disputes and providing the customer with the confidence required for continuous purchases.

“The customer user interface which will be installed at a convenient place for the customer and away from the meter will provide the customer a safer and convenient means of contact with the smart prepayment meter” she said.

She advised the regional ECG team to work hard towards a successful project by engaging all relevant stakeholders to come up with a solution that meets expectations.