Reducing commercial losses : Govt agencies to operate on prepaid meters – Energy Minister
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has disclosed that all government agencies will soon operate on Prepaid Meters as part of measures to reduce technical and commercial losses in the system.
He said this measure will also ensure efficiency.
In response to a question in the name of the Member of Parliament for Effutu, Osahen Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, outlined the specific measures being implemented by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to reduce technical and commercial losses under the Loss Reduction Programme.
He noted that the ECG is actively deploying several interventions as part of its Loss Reduction Programme (LRP) projects, aimed at mitigating illegal electricity connections and addressing metering challenges. He added that these efforts are designed to significantly reduce both technical and commercial losses within the company’s operational areas.
One key initiative, according to the Minister, is Boundary Metering, a project focused on installing MMS-compliant meters at all regional and district boundary points.
“This is intended to enhance comprehensive upstream and downstream energy audits, allowing ECG to identify areas with high system losses,” he noted.
According to the Minister, installation of boundary meters has been completed in five out of the ten ECG operational regions, specifically Western, Central, Eastern, Volta, and Tema, with work ongoing in the remaining regions.
He hinted that another significant project is Distribution Transformer (DT) Metering, which is aimed at installing MMS compliant meters on all Distribution Transformers across ECG’s operational areas.
He told the House that this initiative will facilitate downstream energy audits to identify commercial losses and improve transformer load management.
“So far, 3,349 DT meters have been installed out of a total of 30,000. The Ministry is currently working to accelerate the release of meters that are held up at the port, with expectations that the contractor will accelerate the installation rate once the necessary materials are cleared,” he stated.
Additionally, ECG has adopted Flat Rate Billing for customers who have not had meters installed after making payments or who have faulty meters awaiting replacement. He emphasised that this temporary measure is helping to account for sales that previously could not be obtained. He indicated that this interim solution is designed to prevent customers from making direct connections, thereby minimising commercial losses.
Source: Publishing Desk
