ECG to introduce prepaid meters

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 11 May ?99

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is to introduce prepaid metres to consumers.

The company is also currently studying billing concerning compound houses and the possibility of installing separate meters to tenants to ensure equitable billing in such houses.

The Public relations Manager of the Company, Mr Kwamina Longdon, announced this at a public rally in the Koforidua Municipality held as part of the ECG's interaction with power consumers.

He noted the increasing rate of default in the payment of bills countrywide, since last year's increases in power tariffs and explained that the increase became necessary to enable the company improve its services through the acquisition of new equipment.

Since the change over from a wholly government owned corporation to a limited liability company, ECG has had to rely on loans and tariffs to meet its operational costs instead of funding from the government, he said.

Mr Longdon attributed unannounced power outages to the weakening of equipment, which was overwork during last year's power crisis, adding that steps are being taken to minimise the occurrence.

He urged consumers in the Municipality to pay their bills promptly to ensure improved services from the company.

The director in charge of materials and transport, Mr A. L. Frempong, explained that the ECG?s tariffs were based on the average total cost of power bought from the VRA, the Aboadze Termal Plant and Tema by Private power Producers.

He said, even though ECG pays value added tax (VAT) to the VRA, this is not passed on to domestic consumers.

The Eastern Regional Director of the Company, Mr G. Gbadago, responding to queries from consumers, admitted criticisms about wrongful billings and disconnection and assured the public that all complaints to which the ECG's attention has been drawn, have been rectified.