The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) has recently made a startling discovery in Sunyani, Bono Region, uncovering over 3000 illegal meters in use. These meters are not registered in the company's system, allowing their users to consume electricity without being billed for it, leading to a significant revenue shortfall for NEDCo.
This revelation was made by Eugene Addo-Odoi, the Sunyani Area Manager of NEDCo, during a stakeholders' forum organized by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission in collaboration with Volta River Authority/NEDCo. The forum aimed to address challenges in power distribution and find solutions to them.
Mr. Addo-Odoi highlighted that the use of illegal meters has been detrimental to the company's cash flow. While the exact amount of revenue lost due to these illegal meters is yet to be determined, NEDCo has initiated an investigation to ascertain the extent of the financial impact.
To address this issue, NEDCo is urging those in possession of illegal meters to return them for regularization. The company has declared 2024 as a grace period for the return of these meters before legal actions are taken against their owners. Mr. Addo-Odoi emphasized that acquiring a meter from NEDCo is free, and urged individuals to refrain from obtaining meters through unauthorized means.
In addition to the issue of illegal meters, NEDCo also faced losses amounting to over GH¢211,000 through meter theft in the Bono Region last year. This further underscores the challenges faced by the company in ensuring the integrity of its metering systems.
The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Mrs. Banahene, expressed her concern regarding the illegal sale of meters and urged NEDCo to streamline the process of acquiring meters to prevent such unauthorized transactions. She emphasized the need to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that contribute to these illegal practices.
Furthermore, Frederick Antwi, the Bono Regional Manager of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), called upon the Volta River Authority to enhance customer awareness about their operations to foster greater understanding among consumers.
It is evident that the issue of illegal meters and meter theft poses a significant challenge to NEDCo and the broader electricity distribution system in the Bono Region. The company's proactive approach in investigating and addressing these issues is crucial in safeguarding its revenue and ensuring fair and lawful electricity distribution.
The collaboration between NEDCo, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders is essential in finding sustainable solutions to these challenges. By fostering greater transparency, streamlining processes, and enhancing public awareness, it is possible to mitigate the prevalence of illegal electricity consumption and promote a more robust and reliable power distribution network in the region.
-source ghanaiantimes | curated by Jonathan Annan | Ghana Crimes
