ECG recoups GH¢598,666 from 74 illegal connections

The Electricity Company of Ghana, Ashanti West Region has uncovered 74 illegal connections during the first quarter of 2024.

The illegal connections were discovered during day and night monitoring exercise which saw the Revenue Protection team visit hotels, households, hostels, cold stores, restaurants and some insti­tutions to fish out customers who had connected to the national grid illegally and using power for free.

The exercise which also saw the team check the integrity of meters recouped an amount of GH¢598,666 from the 74 illegal connections.

This exercise forms part of the power distribution company’s initiative to reduce power theft across its operational areas and gather enough revenue to sustain the electricity supply chain in the country.

Speaking to the media on Fri­day, Mr Maxwell Dapaah, General Manager/Ashanti West Region, indicated that the initiative was in line with the company’s objective of curtailing power theft in the country.

He added that the exercise which was conducted in the power distribution company’s operational areas like Santase Apre, Ahod­wo, Abuakwa, Offinso, Kronum, Sokoban, Patase and Kwadaso was to audit the electricity connections, check the integrity of meters and service cables used by customers

Some 74 customers were identified to be using power ille­gally during the exercise and were surcharged accordingly for power theft.

Mr Dapaah stated that “some of the illegalities uncovered during this exercise include meter bypass, unauthorised and direct connec­tions and meter tampering.”

The ECG Ashanti West Gener­al Manager bemoaned the replicate effects of illegal connections on the revenue mobilisation of the company, adding it cripples the company’s efforts to embark on projects aimed at enhancing service delivery that will inure to the bene­fit of customers.

“As a company, we have to pay our suppliers like GRIDCO, VRA and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) when we purchase power from them to distribute to our cherished customers, hence con­suming power illegally prevents the company from getting money to pay these key players in the electric­ity supply chain,” he added

 Mr Dapaah advised customers to prioritise the payment of bills and purchasing prepaid as it is a patriotic act to pay for electricity consumed instead of engaging in illegal connections.

The Ashanti West Region has eight operational districts namely: Abuakwa, Adum, Ahinsan, Bibiani, Danyame, Kokoben, Offinso and Suame Districts

 FROM TIMES REPORTER, KUMASI

The post ECG recoups GH¢598,666 from 74 illegal connections appeared first on Ghanaian Times.

Read Full Story