The Municipal Chief Executive for Yilo Krobo Municipality, Eric Tetteh, has intimated that a contingent of 50 military officers will be deployed to the Krobo area to assist the Electricity Company of Ghana install prepaid meters from Kpong.
According to Eric Tetteh, this move will help with the smooth installation of the meters in the municipality.
“The instruction is simple, when they enter your house and you say you don’t want prepaid meter, they will disconnect you and move on.”
Eric Tetteh
The MCE explained that the decision is a last resort due to the activities of some people in inciting others to resist the installation of prepaid meters whilst ECG continue to incur debt as a result of failure by the same people to pay their bills.
“The alternative was scary as we risked losing power in the Krobo area. Please, let’s avoid any confrontation and cooperate.”
Eric Tetteh
His statement came after the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) reached an agreement with all stakeholders in Kroboland to install prepaid meters once again in homes. The exercise commenced today, Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
Prepaid meters are free
According to an announcement by the Company, the prepaid meters are free of charge, therefore cautioning customers to beware of impostors who might want to defraud them.
ECG, however indicated that, with the benefit of hindsight, particularly the deadly disturbances sparked by the massive disconnection of power due to heavy indebtedness, the Company has agreed to ring-fence the debt of 2014 to 2017.
“The debt of 2018 to 2021 is to be paid over a five-year period. Customers are expected to, however, pay all 2022 bills going forward.”
ECG
The power supply company assured that the new meters will have no debts on them. It noted that those who need additional meters have been requested to apply for them at the ECG office, which came under vandalism during the 2018 disturbances.
“ECG wishes to appeal to customers and the general public to collaborate for smooth implementation of the prepaid meter project.”
ECG
Prior to this, there was some form of hostility that had characterized the relationship between ECG and the Yilo Krobo Municipality. According to reports, the communities rejected bills issued them on grounds of being estimated bills, wrongful overbilling, lack of meter reading cards and other issues.
To amplify these concerns, groups such as Kloma Hengme, Kloma Gbi, United Krobo Foundation and Concerned Krobo Youth led a number of protests which resulted in casualties and destruction of property.
ECG on the other hand admitted anomalies with its metering system after migrating from Customer Billing Information System (CBIS) to Customer Management System (CMS) across its operational areas between 2015 and 2016. Tariff increment aside the new billing software issues is believed to have generated hike in bills but the challenges were subsequently addressed.
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