TIG Post

Tag: Meter

  • Ghanaians lament unfair prepaid meter charges on social media

    Ghanaians lament unfair prepaid meter charges on social media

    The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has recently replaced all post-paid, non-smart prepaid, and faulty meters with new MMS-compliant smart prepaid meters.

    This replacement initiative, part of the company’s Loss Reduction Programme (LRP), aims to install smart meters and enhance energy accounting practices.

    The updated meters are designed to reduce system losses, ensure more accurate readings, and eliminate the billing issues customers faced with older models.

    However, some customers have expressed frustration over the frequent visits to ECG offices and agents to purchase electricity, fearing power outages and struggling to keep their appliances running due to high consumption costs.

    Some individuals, sharing receipts of their electricity purchases, reported spending up to GH¢1,700 monthly, while others spent around GH¢500 on average.

    Others on social media argue that the installation of the new meters is a tactic for the government to extract more money from Ghanaians, claiming the meters are financially burdening the public as large sums are needed to maintain power.

    “They changed my meter just one month ago and this is what I have spent so far. No be say I get cold store for my house oh!! No be say I dey 3 bedroom apartment. Just me alone!!! If I do illegal connection may3 bone?” a tweep named Kobe Boujee said.

    Another stated, “Is ECG using the new meter to milk money from the citizens? Ei.”

    Some social media users are contemplating illegal connections as a way to escape the burden of paying high electricity bills.

    However, the new meters are reportedly equipped with anti-tampering features designed to combat illegal connections and minimize losses from electricity theft.

    Here are some of the tweets:

    https://twitter.com/kobe_boujee88/status/1852441557489828301

    https://twitter.com/withAlvin__/status/1854278665426653568

    https://twitter.com/kobe_boujee88/status/1852441557489828301

    https://twitter.com/JoeUnchained/status/1853502266193371141

    https://twitter.com/cashmoneymaker1/status/1854422247202558434

  • Purchase enough credit to last for 3 days – ECG tells MBH meter users

    Purchase enough credit to last for 3 days – ECG tells MBH meter users

    The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has advised customers using MBH meters in certain regions to purchase enough credit ahead of a planned three-day maintenance exercise.

    The maintenance, scheduled to begin on Friday, September 20, 2024, at 11:00 pm, will end on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 11:00 pm.

    The affected areas include Tema, Accra West, and parts of the Eastern Region. The emergency maintenance will involve works on the MBH server, which may result in service interruptions for users in these regions.

    In a statement, ECG urged all MBH meter customers to ensure they purchase sufficient credit before the server downtime. “All MBH customers are therefore being advised to purchase enough credit that will last for the period of the downtime,” the company said.

    The ECG apologized for any inconvenience the maintenance may cause but emphasized that the exercise is necessary to enhance the functionality of the MBH meter system.

    Customers are encouraged to contact ECG customer service hotlines for further assistance or inquiries during the maintenance period.

  • ECG to tackle over-billing issues by visiting homes to read meters

    ECG to tackle over-billing issues by visiting homes to read meters

    The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is set to implement a spot-billing system to tackle challenges related to over-billing caused by non-reading of customers’ bills, leading to inaccurate estimations.

    As per a press statement dated February 2, 2024, ECG outlined that the initiative involves the introduction of a new reading meter, capable of capturing customers’ electricity consumption and seamlessly integrating it into the central ECG database.

    This system aims to facilitate instantaneous billing, preventing errors and over payments.

    ECG reassured all customers that this approach will effectively address issues related to over billing and inaccurate bill estimations.

    Customers are encouraged to collaborate with this initiative to ensure the efficacy of the new system.

  • Online applications for meters begin February 1

    Online applications for meters begin February 1

    The Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) has announced a digital transition for services such as new connections, separate meters, and additional loads.

    Starting February 1, 2024, these services will be exclusively accessible through the ECG Mobile App.

    This strategic move aligns with ECG’s digital transformation agenda, aimed at improving customer service efficiency.

    ECG underscores the importance of providing precise and active contact details during the application process, as all communication will be conducted through the provided telephone numbers.

    “Customers should note that all responses regarding their applications will be communicated to them through their contact telephone numbers provided.”

    “Customers are therefore advised to provide accurate information when applying for the service.”

  • ECG’s CLOU prepayment server to undergo maintenance on Jan 25

    ECG’s CLOU prepayment server to undergo maintenance on Jan 25

    The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has scheduled emergency maintenance works on the CLOU Prepayment Metering System’s server for Thursday, January 25 and Friday January 26, 2024.

    As part of this maintenance, the system will undergo essential updates and enhancements to ensure optimal performance.

    In light of these scheduled activities, the company advises customers to proactively purchase an adequate amount of credit to sustain their electricity consumption during the anticipated downtime.

    This proactive measure is recommended to minimize any inconvenience that may arise due to the temporary unavailability of certain services associated with the CLOU Prepayment Metering System.

    The company acknowledges the potential inconvenience to affected customers and expresses regret for any disruptions that may occur during the maintenance period.

  • Customers angry, debited and in darkness, as ECG battles NURI KAMSTRUP meter challenges

    Customers angry, debited and in darkness, as ECG battles NURI KAMSTRUP meter challenges

    Some customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in Accra have expressed their frustration and anger over the challenges they face in purchasing electricity for their prepaid meters.

    They claim that they have been debited without receiving credits, or that their meters have malfunctioned, leaving them in darkness for days.

    The ECG issued a statement on October 9th 2023, acknowledging that there was a technical problem with the NURI KAMSTRUP prepayment system, which affected some of its customers. The statement assured the affected customers that the ECG team was working hard to fix the issue and restore normal service provision. The statement also apologised for the inconvenience caused by the glitch.

    However, some customers who spoke to The Independent Ghana said that the statement was not enough and that they wanted a swift and permanent solution to the problem. They also demanded compensation for the losses they incurred due to the power outage.

    One of the customers, Emmanuel Karlu, said that he bought ECG credits from the ECG office on Dome Kwabenya road on Friday, October 6, 2023, but when he returned home, he found out that his electricity supply had not been restored. He said that he got an error message on his meter when he inserted his card. He said that he went back to the ECG office several times, but he did not get any satisfactory assistance. He said that he had lost perishable food items in his refrigerator due to the lack of power.

    Another customer, Doris Konadu, said that she purchased ECG credits online last week and received a confirmation message, but she had been sleeping in darkness ever since. She said that she followed up with the ECG office, but she was told that her meter was old and needed to be replaced. She said that she felt cheated and neglected by the ECG.

    Some customers also took to social media platforms such as Twitter to vent their frustration and dissatisfaction with the ECG service. They complained that the ECG mobile app was not working and that the ECG vendors were also saying that the network was down. They wondered why everything in Ghana was so bad and called for accountability and transparency from the ECG management.

    The ECG has not yet given any further explanation or update on the situation or how long it will take to resolve it.

  • Customs Division confiscates over 700 fake meters at Dabala checkpoint

    Customs Division confiscates over 700 fake meters at Dabala checkpoint

    The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has seized over 700 shipments of counterfeit electrical meters at the Dabala Junction checkpoint situated in the Volta Region.

    Customs officers stationed at the checkpoint made a comprehensive examination of an Aflao-bound bus heading towards Accra on Sunday. During the inspection, they discovered the counterfeit meters concealed within the luggage compartment and proceeded to seize them.

    No passenger on board the vehicle owned up to the fake meters, which compelled the customs officials to seize the consignment.  

    The Volta Regional Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Christina Jatoe-Kaleo, who confirmed the development to the Ghana News Agency, said only the ECG, NEDCO and the Ministry of Energy have been mandated to import meters, hence it was illegal for individuals to venture into such business. 

    The Company was clamping down on such fake meters since those substandard meters were installed on the blindside of the ECG, she said.  

    “This nation-wrecking activity is taking a negative toll on the commercial and technical operations of the Company,” Madam Jatoe-Kaleo said. 

    “It is illegal to import meters into the country and acquire meters from other sources apart from ECG. We will take all necessary legal actions against individuals who are trying to infiltrate our network with these fake meters, including those who aid them by selling or buying those meters.” 

    She revealed that those meters were substandard and could cause fire outbreaks, saying: “Our meters are tested and calibrated to meet the required standards of our country, but these foreign meters are not calibrated so customers using them are likely to incur higher electricity bills than our standard meters.” 

    “Using such unauthorised meters poses several dangers to the user, other ECG customers and the company.”  

    Madam Jatoe-Kaleo explained that such meters could cause overloading and damage to transformers, leading to outages and technical losses. 

    She advised customers to avoid purchasing those meters and dealing with third parties but to visit the ECG offices for any service required. 

    “With the introduction of the Loss Reduction Programme and flat rate policy, we have many options to service our customers anytime they apply for meters, so kindly visit the nearest ECG office and apply to ensure you are served instead of engaging in the illegal act of purchasing from illegal sources,” she said. 

    Madam Jatoe-Kaleo called on the public to assist the Company in winning the war against dealers in fake meters by reporting any individual engaged in that to enable the ECG to generate enough revenue to sustain the electricity supply chain. 

    “Users of these foreign meters consume electricity illegally without paying and this is not fair to customers who pay their bills. Such individuals usually complain they are not receiving bills, and this is because their meters were obtained and installed illegally…”. 

    “We would like to commend the GRA and Customs Division together with other security agencies like the military, national security and Ghana Police Service for supporting the company in the fight against the use of illegal meters,” Madam Jatoe-Kaleo said.

    She urged customers to download the ECG PowerApp or use the shortcode *226# to pay all their outstanding bills to enable the company to supply stable power.