ECG denies smart meters are causing rapid depletion of electricity credit

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has dismissed claims that its smart prepaid meters are responsible for the rapid depletion of electricity credit, saying higher consumption is instead driven by technical, environmental, and usage-related factors.

The Public Relations Officer for ECG’s Ashanti West Region, Benjamin Obeng Antwi, explained that issues such as poor wiring, overloaded earthing systems, and environmental conditions significantly influence electricity consumption levels.

He said the introduction of smart prepaid meters was designed to improve convenience and ensure more accurate monitoring of electricity usage, replacing older meters that were described as faulty and obsolete.

“The old meters required us to visit every household to update the system; however, the smart ones did not require us to do the update by visiting the households,” he said.

Mr Antwi urged consumers to adopt safe and proper electrical practices, including engaging certified electricians and using standard wiring materials, noting that substandard wiring can lead to increased power consumption.

He gave examples of appropriate wiring sizes, stating that four millimetres (mm) are required for air-conditioner installations, two mm for sockets, and 1.5 mm for lighting.

He also warned that ageing electrical cables, particularly those in use for 10 to 15 years or more, could contribute to higher energy consumption due to insulation deterioration, which increases power draw.

The ECG official further emphasised the importance of proper earthing systems, cautioning that shared or overloaded earthing setups could create inefficiencies.

“Sometimes four or more flats use the same earthing system instead of each flat having its own. Instead of keeping the resistance value at zero, sometimes you’ll check and it is higher than zero,” he explained.

Mr Antwi also advised consumers to invest in new, energy-efficient appliances rather than second-hand products, which may consume more electricity due to reduced efficiency.

“When buying brand-new gadgets, check the number of stars because the higher the stars, the more efficient the gadgets are without consuming more power,” he said.

He dismissed suggestions that frequent power outages significantly affect electricity consumption.

On tariffs, Mr Antwi clarified that ECG does not set electricity prices, stressing that the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is responsible for determining tariffs. He explained that utility providers submit expenditure proposals to the regulator, which then reviews and approves pricing periodically.

He assured the public of ECG’s commitment to delivering reliable electricity and urged customers to remain calm.