Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says that Board Chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Kelly Gadzekpo, has assured him that by the end of this year, the company will add some 700,000 smart meters across the country.

According to him, this will make up for a deficit of one million customers from the already existing 2.8 million out of a total of 3.8 million customers who can now access the newly launched ECG mobile app; ‘ECG Power’ to purchase prepaid and post-paid credit conveniently.

“This new app is going to bring convenience to millions of people and I was just asking the board chairman, what about the other one million and he tells me don’t worry, this year we’re going to add another 700,000 smart meters which will mean that by the end of this year we would have reached 90 percent plus of customers accessing the smart meters,” Dr. Bawumia said this at the launch of the ECG mobile app in Accra on February 18.

“By the end of this year we expect to get to from 73 percent to 92 percent but the definitely when we get to next year, 100 percent will be attained,” the Vice President added.

Dr Bawumia also hinted at plans by the ECG to employ the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Remote Sensors across its systems to fight the canker of power theft.

“The issue of solving the collection problem at ECG is a major part of solving the energy issue in Ghana. I think this app also enhances collection, but I am aware-because I have been talking to the Board Chairman and the MD–that they are thinking about applying technology, artificial intelligence and remote sensors in the collection process.”

“I know that they are piloting the system now, and by the grace of God if all goes well, we will have implemented a new system, starting this year, whereby nobody will be able to steal electricity in Ghana again.”

“It is a major thing that the ECG is likely to implement this year, using artificial intelligence and remote sensing. They are piloting it right now, and the results look quite good. Once we solve that problem, the issue of losses from people doing ‘kuluulu’ connections of electricity will be a thing of the past,” Dr. Bawumia said.

The Managing Director of ECG, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, on his part, disclosed that the new mobile app was built and developed by a team of Ghanaian staff at the ECG.