The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has installed 200 new smart prepaid meters in Suame District as a pilot project to improve service delivery. This initiative involves free meter replacements for existing customers and allows online credit purchases. Monitoring will ensure customer needs are met while addressing illegal connections. The pilot runs for three months to assess expansion feasibility.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has successfully installed 200 new smart prepaid meters in the Asuoyeboa and Bantam Racecourse areas of the Suame District as part of a pilot project. This initiative is scheduled to run for three months, after which the ECG will evaluate the potential for expanding the smart meter program throughout the entire district. Mr. George Amoah, the Ashanti West Regional General Manager of ECG, highlighted that this effort is part of the Loss Reduction Project (LRP).
Out of the 200 new meters, 150 single-phase prepaid meters have been installed in Asuoyeboa, and 50 three-phase meters in Bantama. As part of the pilot project, existing non-smart prepaid, faulty prepaid, and some postpaid meters were replaced at no cost to customers. The goal is to introduce a dedicated smart prepaid meter system tailored specifically for Suame District, which serves over 120,000 customers, the highest of any district in the Ashanti West Region.
Mr. Amoah clarified that the new smart prepaid meters are equipped with advanced recording capabilities, allowing for the detection of illegal tampering. If the meter is interfered with, it automatically disables any further purchases of prepaid credits. The ECG is closely monitoring the performance of these meters to ensure that they meet the district’s growing energy demands. Customers with existing credits will carry these over to their newly installed smart meters.
Moreover, the introduction of the smart meters is aligned with the Meter Management System (MMS), which enables customers to purchase prepaid credits online, saving them time and costs associated with visiting vending locations. The meters also provide real-time updates on energy consumption directly to users’ homes via a User Interface Unit.
Mr. Amoah indicated that the ECG has successfully addressed the backlog of meter applications for 2024 in several districts, including Adum and Ahinsan. He urged citizens to assist in combating illegal connections by reporting suspicious activities at their nearest ECG office, emphasizing that there is a commission of six percent for any information that leads to recovering lost amounts.
The installation of smart prepaid meters in the Suame District by the ECG marks a significant advancement in energy distribution and management. This pilot project aims to enhance service delivery by reducing illegal connections and providing customers with greater flexibility in managing their electricity consumption. With the commitment to meet customer demands and ongoing monitoring, the ECG aims to ensure the project’s success and potential future rollout throughout the district.
Original Source: gna.org.gh
