ECG has not started installing prepaid meters in Krobo District. None at all. Neither do we intend to use the prepaid meters as a form of “punishment” for our customers.
In 2014, we started using a new billing software which gave us some challenges. We suspended the use of this software in the interim.
This problem happened in all ECG operational areas, and not just the Krobo areas. Using the ten regions, it happened in Asante, Western, Eastern, Volta, Central, Greater Accra Regions.
However, we encountered issues of non payment of bills which has been ongoing since then in our Krobo District.
The billing anomaly was rectified. The bills were investigated and corrected.
PURC also investigated on their own and vouched that ECG had indeed cleared and worked on the wrong bills.
However, some customers in Krobo insists that these investigations have not been done.
The bills from 2018 till now have all been correct. There have not been any problems with them. However, as customers chose not to pay these legitimate bills, it has led to an accumulation of debt.
ECG has therefore proposed that, the bills of 2014 to 2017, which some customers still dispute should be set aside or ring fenced for further investigations.
The bills from 2018 till date are correct and must be paid. However, as they have accumulated, ECG would want to work with customers on one on one basis to work out favorable working payment plans, such that even if it will take a customer 5 years to finish paying this 2018 to now debt, ECG is willing to allow this flexibility.
Mind you, ECG usually gives a much shorter time for such debts. About 3 to 6 months. But for this instance, the Company is making a concession to allow more flexibility.
The prepaid meter installation is a working operational policy for ECG. All post paid meters are to be changed to prepaid meters eventually.
However, before the installation of any prepaid meter in any district, we do a pre installation survey as well as setting up of vendor points before we deploy. None of these have been done yet in Krobo District. It is part of the plans to deploy prepaid in Krobo, just like in most operational areas of the Company. However, this is yet to start in Krobo.
The claim that we have started prepaid meter installation is therefore false.
The youth groups have asked for a total cancellation of the debt. ECG cannot cancel debts for power which has been legitimately consumed and rightly billed.
We have had a number of engagements and will keep engaging. However, we encourage our individual customers to note that the proposed flexible terms of payment is on one on one basis so we would want to deal with each individual customer for their own flexibility.
Should prepaid meters be installed, the same payment flexibility will be employed so customers will not be in a situation where they must pay the entire accumulated debt before using power.
Management of ECG, Tema District
