By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Oct. 30, GNA – The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has launched a Spot Billing Franchising Project in Koforidua to improve revenue mobilisation, strengthen accountability and enhance customer service delivery.
The project, launched under the theme, “Safeguarding Revenue, Powering Ghana,” seeks to improve meter reading, ensure accurate billing, identify illegal connections and strengthen revenue collection.
Dr Julius Abayateye, the Acting Deputy Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, who read the speech on behalf of the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, said safeguarding revenue was critical to the financial sustainability and operational efficiency of the electricity sector.
He said although investments in power generation, transmission and distribution were important, the sector’s sustainability depended largely on accurate billing, timely payment and effective revenue collection.
He commended ECG for introducing the franchising initiative, which had expanded the traditional role of meter readers into a performance-based system.
He said more than 1,500 contractors had been deployed across 92 districts, with pilot results showing a 21.3 per cent improvement in meter-reading performance.
Dr Abayateye said ECG was targeting an increase in revenue collection from 86 to 98 per cent and a reduction in system losses from 26.88 to 21.5 per cent by 2028.
He called for stronger customer engagement, reliable customer data and collective efforts to curb illegal connections and electricity theft.
Mr Ebenezer Baiden, Deputy Managing Director in charge of Commercial Services at ECG, said the initiative complemented prepaid metering, which could not adequately serve all customers.
He said the project, which was piloted in six districts across the Eastern, Ashanti, Central and Volta regions, had been rolled out nationwide, with contractors equipped with handheld devices and applications to undertake meter reading, bill delivery, identify illegal connections and support debt recovery.
Mr Baiden said post-paid billing accounted for about 55 per cent of ECG’s revenue, making the initiative important to improve revenue collection.
He said contractors were required to read at least 1,000 meters, while commercial management offices had the responsibility to supervise their activities and ensure performance.
Mr Julius Kwame Kpekpena the, Managing Director of ECG, said the initiative had broadened the responsibilities of contractors beyond meter reading to include identifying faulty and bypassed meters, monitoring prepaid meters, validating customer information and supporting authorised disconnections and reconnections.
He said the expanded responsibilities would help address field-level challenges, including inaccurate meter readings, delayed bill delivery and unattended faulty meters, which often resulted in customer dissatisfaction and revenue losses.
Mr Kpekpena said contractors would be paid based on verified work, while technology, including the ZEUS Commercial Management System developed with Polymorph Labs and Hubtel, would support electronic monitoring, photographic evidence and verification of authorised field personnel.
He urged contractors to discharge their duties with integrity and respect, while encouraging customers to verify the identity of ECG personnel and report on suspicious activities.
Mrs Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, Eastern Regional Minister, commended ECG for the initiative, describing it as a step towards improving efficiency, accountability and electricity service delivery.
She said reliable electricity was essential for economic growth and business development, adding that protecting revenue required cooperation among ECG management, contractors, customers and government.
She urged customers to pay their bills promptly and report illegal connections, while calling on contractors to work honestly and management to ensure effective supervision and respond promptly to customer concerns.
The Regional Minister gave the assurance that the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council would support efforts to improve efficient electricity service delivery.
Franchise contractors assigned to the field exercise were provided with vehicles and motorcycles to facilitate their operations.
GNA
Edited by D. I. Laary
Reporter: Emelia B. Addae
Email address: [email protected]