The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has launched a significant initiative to replace outdated and malfunctioning electricity meters across the Accra East region with advanced Smart MMS-compliant prepaid meters.
This exercise, which is part of the company’s broader effort to upgrade its metering system and assure revenue collection, will run from September 2 to September 30, 2024, covering key operational districts- Makola, Teshie, Legon, Roman Ridge, Kwabenya, Mampong, Dodowa, and Adentan, and targets the replacement of 250,000 smart prepaid meters.
The ECG’s Director of Communications, William Boateng, tells Myjoyonline that the replacement exercise, which is mandatory and sanctioned by the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC), aims to enhance service delivery, improve customer satisfaction, and address the ongoing challenges associated with obsolete meters, including their failure to record accurate electricity consumption.
Revenue Collection Shortfall
The move to replace outdated meters comes in the wake of a significant revenue collection shortfall reported by the ECG. According to Boateng, the company has encountered a revenue gap of over GH₵893 million, primarily due to the malfunctioning of old meters that failed to communicate correctly with the company’s servers.
This shortfall occurred over the months of July and August 2024, as ECG faced challenges in accurately recording customer consumption due to the outdated metering systems.
Boateng explained that the revenue gap is expected to be recovered gradually as customers begin to repay their outstanding debts in installments.
“These are meters that have run their due course. They were not working accurately and needed to be replaced. Once the replacement was completed, we expect the situation to stabilise, thereby improving the company’s revenue fortunes,” Boateng stated.
Benefits of the Smart MMS-Compliant Meters
The new Smart MMS-compliant prepaid meters represent a significant upgrade over the old system. These meters are designed to be more reliable and efficient, offering customers the ability to remotely top up their credits using the ECG Power App or through a short code (*226#), providing convenience and flexibility in managing electricity consumption.
A key feature of the new smart meters is their compliance with the Meter Management System (MMS) standards, ensuring that they meet the necessary protocols for secure data management and communication between the meter and the utility provider.
This upgrade is a component of the ECG’s Loss Reduction Project (LRP), which seeks to reduce technical and commercial losses and improve overall operational efficiency.
Customer Reassurance
To facilitate a smooth transition, the ECG has assured customers that any outstanding credit balances on their old meters will be transferred to the new smart prepaid meters.
William Boateng emphasised that the meter replacement is entirely free of charge and cautioned customers against paying any money to individuals conducting the replacement.
He also urged customers to allow ECG officers access to their premises for the replacement process, noting that all personnel will be properly identified with official identification cards or letters from the company.
Despite the initial revenue shortfall, Boateng expressed confidence that the new system would ultimately lead to better financial performance for the ECG.
He also highlighted the company’s commitment to addressing any customer concerns related to the transition and urged patience as the ECG works to reconcile and transfer existing credit balances to the new meters.
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