The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has guaranteed its customers in the Tema Region's Krobo District that their previous debt from 2018 to 2021 would not be paid using the new prepaid meters that are replacing the old postpaid meters.
The company explained that during previous stakeholder engagements with customers in the Krobo District, there was an agreement between various youth groups, chiefs, churches, Muslim communities, organizations, and the two assemblies in Yilo Krobo and Lower Manya Krobo that the old debt would not be transferred to the prepaid meters when they were installed.
The ECG's Tema Region Marketing Officer, Puumaaiya Ruhiya Fuseini, explained the situation during a public education on prepaid meters in Belekope, Lolonyo, Ahudjo, and Kpong Quarters, among other places.
An old obligation was not discharged.
"We have not annulled the previous debt, but we will not include it on the new prepaid meters when they are placed." Customers have agreed that after the prepaid meters are put, they would have two years from 2018 to 2021 to pay off the previous debt.
"What will happen is that as you buy credit for your prepaid meters, you as an individual customer will have to make your own arrangement with the company as to how much you can pay monthly per your debt from 2018 to 2021, while we retool or re-fence the debt that caused the impasse in the Krobo District in 2014," the marketing officer explained further.
The PURC mandate
The Public Utility Regulation Commission (PURC), according to the marketing officer, had forced the firm to install the prepaid meters in the Krobo District within six months, adding that "we as a company cannot do anything on our own without the PURC."
She went on to say that a pre-installation survey had already been completed on more than 3,000 metres in the Kpong region, providing the firm with the necessary information.
She did, however, state that the actual installation of the prepaid meters will commence this month, following the completion of the pre-installation survey in the other settlements within the Krobo District.
"When we take off, we will advance gradually and set up vending stations so that clients can acquire electricity as and when they need it," Ms Fuseini said.
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