The Electricity Company of Ghana has dismissed claims that it is overbilling customers, attributing concerns over rapidly depleting prepaid electricity credits to outdated metering systems and tariff discrepancies.
Findings from Investigation
Following complaints from consumers, the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition directed ECG to probe the issue earlier this year.
At a press briefing in Accra, Acting Managing Director Julius Kpekpena revealed that investigations uncovered that some older meters are still configured with outdated tariff rates—some dating as far back as 2021.
Why Credits Are Depleting Faster
According to ECG, when these obsolete meters are updated to reflect current tariffs, customers may experience a sudden and noticeable increase in how quickly their prepaid credit is consumed.
“Immediately that customer is going to see a six times jump in the rate at which the credit is consumed… The truth is that they have underpaid for a long time,” Mr Kpekpena explained.
Not Overbilling, ECG Insists
The company insists that the issue is not deliberate overcharging, but rather a correction of previously underpriced electricity usage due to outdated systems.
Ongoing Meter Replacement
ECG says it is in the process of replacing old meters and updating tariff settings nationwide to ensure accurate billing and improved efficiency.
Public Reassurance
Authorities have urged customers to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing upgrades, noting that the changes are necessary to ensure fairness and sustainability in electricity distribution.
