ECG Gets Tough On Power Thieves  

THE ELECTRICITY Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Ashanti Region has introduced new measures to ensure that its customers can no longer steal power.

In line with this, the ECG has commenced a massive project which will ensure that all old meters in the region are replaced with Smart Pre-Paid ones.

The fixing of the Pre-Paid meters in homes and work places has kick-started in the Ashanti East ECG, with Asokwa District being the first area to benefit from the new project.

Bernard P. Bansa, General Manager In-Charge-of Research and Development, ECG, announced that 45,000 fresh Smart Pre-Paid meters would be distributed in homes and work places at the Asokwa District.

According to him, the ECG was expected to use two months to cover the entire area, adding that 17 local contractors had been engaged to carry out the exercise.

The ECG had over the years suffered significant financial losses because some of the company's customers either indulged in illegal connections or refused to pay for power used, thereby negatively affecting the company's revenue generation.

The Smart Pre-Paid meters are programmed in a manner that illegal connections and tampering with the meter are not possible, Mr. Bansa, who sounded elated, indicated to journalists in Kumasi.

He said from Asokwa, the project would be replicated in the other six districts of Ashanti East ECG, which comprise Ayigya, Manhyia, Kwabre, Mampong, Effiduase and Konongo.

Erasmus Kyere-Baidoo, Public Relations Manager, ECG Ashanti Region, disclosed that the meters, imported from China, would also be introduced to all the districts of Ashanti West ECG in due course.

He said they (meters) would be of huge benefit to the consumer and the ECG, noting that they would protect ECG's revenue and also put it in a better position to deliver effectively.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi