The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has launched a new smart prepaid meter system aimed at tackling system leakages. The new prepaid smart meter will replace all old postpaid and prepaid meters currently installed for both domestic and industrial use.
Speaking at the launch of the new meter at the Manhyia District in Kumasi, the General Manager of the Ashanti East Region of ECG, Asomani Wiafe, stated that the new smart meter is expected to reduce power losses and boost revenue generation.
Electricity theft remains a major challenge hindering the smooth operation of the Electricity Company of Ghana across its operational regions. To address this growing concern, ECG has introduced a new smart prepaid meter designed to minimize power losses.
The new prepaid meter comes with advanced features that can detect tampering, also known as illegal connections. Currently, ECG management has started replacing all old prepaid and postpaid meters in the Manhyia District, located in the Ashanti regional capital.
The Ashanti East General Manager, Asomani Wiafe, urged the public to embrace the new smart prepaid meter, emphasizing that it serves their best interests.
“Over the years, we have had different types of meters which were not smart digital types. We are now going digital, just as Vice President Dr. Bawumia said. All our machines are now digital, making them more efficient and accurate,” he said.
He explained further, “Some users may say the meters we are replacing run faster, but there’s an explanation for that. The old ones—some of them—screech, so you don’t get the complete cycle. However, this new meter provides the right measurement, which may make users think it runs faster. This new meter is also MMS-compliant, so you can buy credit from any location, unlike the old system which was not MMS-compliant,” he clarified.
Speaking to www.kumasimail.com, Tamara Asomani Wiafe, RIP Project Manager, highlighted the convenience the new smart prepaid meter will provide to customers and system operators.
“This smart prepaid meter comes with special features that help ECG detect tampering and the installation of illegal meters. It is also convenient for customers as they can buy prepaid credit from their mobile phones without needing to visit a vendor. There are other codes that help customers check the amount of units used and how much is left on the meter. The best part is that you can buy credit even if you are outside your region or the country. Since it is smart, it is connected to our systems,” she explained.
She also refuted claims that the new smart prepaid meters are not user-friendly or are expensive, providing explanations to address these concerns.
“The meter will actually help consumers save more money, contrary to claims that it runs faster and is therefore expensive to use. The features align perfectly with a proper wiring system. If the wiring is good, there’s no leakage, and the earthing is proper, there’s no way the meter will overrun.
“If you compare this system to the old prepaid meters and the postpaid meters, this one is much more convenient for customers. For the Manhyia District, we have just started the project, and we will provide customers with the necessary education to help them understand how effective this system is,” she assured.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
