PURC audits new prepaid meters amid consumer concerns

An audit of the new prepaid meters installed by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCo) across the country is underway.

Spearheaded by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the audit aims to verify whether the new prepaid meters align with the commission's tariff reckoner to ensure accurate billing and tariff application.

The exercise comes in response to numerous complaints by consumers regarding overbilling issues after their existing meters were replaced.

The audit, therefore, would provide valuable insights into the functionality of the new meters and identify potential discrepancies.

The Executive Secretary of the PURC, Dr Ishmael Ackah, who made this known to the media at a forum in Accra last Monday, stated that the commission was engaging with the utilities in an attempt to help resolve the concerns.

“We are testing some of the meters to see whether they are in line with our tariff reckoner, when we are done, we will issue a statement on our findings,” he said.

The context

In the last few months, ECG and NEDCo, both power distribution companies in the country, have embarked on a nationwide smart meter installation project to reduce energy losses and enhance efficiency.

The advanced meters will improve energy accounting to provide accurate and real-time data on electricity consumption to ensure better revenue management.

This initiative aims to strengthen the country's power distribution network to meet growing service connection demands to promote a more sustainable energy ecosystem.

However, the introduction of smart meters has been marred by controversy, with consumers raising alarm over suspected overbilling and inaccuracies in their post-replacement bills.

PURC’s efforts

Dr Ackah stated that the concerns of the customers had come to the notice of the regulator, and it had consequently taken steps to resolve them by issuing advisories, pending an audit of the meters.

“But before that is done, I will urge consumers to be cautious when their metres are being replaced. Firstly, we want customers to inspect the identification cards of the officers replacing their meters and be sure they are from the utilities.

“They must take the final recording of the old meter before they are replaced and signed. Most often the customers complain that they had a certain amount of money on their meter but after replacement the meter became empty.

He explained that having the final reading would enable the consumer to report to PURC in case there was a disagreement on the account on the meter before it was replaced.

Intensified education

The executive secretary said the commission had also intensified education on its electricity consumption estimator to enable customers to better understand their energy usage, manage consumption and make informed decisions to reduce their bills.

“Some of the consumption rates of appliances, especially the second-hand ones, are problematic. And so, we need to ensure that the appliances we buy are tested and suitable for our system,” he said.

He said an efficient appliance would enable consumers to manage their consumption effectively to reduce energy waste and lower their electricity bills.

He added that the PURC was mandated to safeguard consumers against unfair billing practices to maintain trust within the utility services.