For some days now, customers using the prepaid metering system of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have been unable to top-up at the various vending points.
The challenges have affected customers in the Greater Accra, Volta and Central regions. Also affected are parts of the Eastern and Ashanti regions, which has generated a lot of unrest and outrage among its customers.
Many individuals and organisations, especially cold store operators, have taken to social and traditional media to complain bitterly about the situation and how it was affecting their businesses. This paper cannot imagine the amount of monies people have lost within these few days, due to this power challenge.
Thankfully, the problem is being resolved and the ECG has gone ahead to issue a statement that the affected customers could now purchase power credits at the nearest vending points.
The Chronicle would like to draw the attention of Ghanaians to some observations we have made during this short period of the prepaid metering system challenges.
It is very clear that the agitation and outrage poured out by customers during these few days is a reflection of how important power has become in our daily lives.
Prepayment metering was introduced in Ghana in 1994. It has undergone several phases due to technological advancements. Prepaid metering is where customers buy electricity upfront, instead of the post-paid billing system and has helped utility companies recover revenue.
Ghanaians have embraced the prepayment metering because it allows customers to choose the timing and quantity of purchases they want at their own convenience.
The advantages of prepayment metering are numerous and The Chronicle was happy when it was introduced into the country. For example, the up-front payment for electricity means energy is paid for before it is consumed. There is also no unpaid bill because energy is prepaid.
Then also, the problem of collection of arrears and unpaid bills will be no more, as well as no meter readings.
Prepayment metering has become globally accepted and anything that will undermine it must be discouraged.
Therefore, the interruption in the purchase of electricity credit must be seen as a serious issue that deserves utmost attention.
In April this year, the Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, at a news conference, said that ECG lost GH¢3.2 billion revenue as a result of power theft.
The Minister said the phenomena make the ECG unable to raise funds for its operations, as well as maintain its equipment and infrastructure. For a company that is complaining about leakages in revenue collection, it is ironic that customers are roaming from one vending point to another and have to return home with their monies because of ECG’s so called technical hitches.
The mission statement of ECG is to provide quality, reliable and safe electricity services to support the socio-economic growth and development of Ghana. The company has over the years been able to carry out this mission notwithstanding the occasional challenges we encounter.
The Chronicle agrees with ECG and hopes this current challenge will be solved sooner than later.
