The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDco) has started installing prepaid metres in various households in the northern sector of the country.
The move forms part of measures to rake in more revenue from the supply of electricity in the area, to fund the maintenance of machinery so as to facilitate smooth operations and reliable distribution of power.
The exercise is currently taking place at Damongo, Yendi, Gushegu, Buipe, Saboba and the Tamale metropolis.
Public Relations Officer of NEDco in Tamale, Alhassan Ababa, said in an interview: “The essence of this project is to do away with the traditional meters which make it easier for consumers to avoid paying for the power they use.
“Based on the pilot’s success in Tamale and Sunyani we decided to introduce it on a mass scale in our operational areas, which cover two-thirds of the country.
“With the pre-paid there will not be need to issue any bill at the end of the month as compared to the postpaid, and there will not be any disconnection as well — which is associated with the post-paid,” he said.
Consequently, NEDco has intensified its public education in the Northern Region to educate consumers on the usage of prepaid meters and their benefits to ensure a successful installation programme.
Mr. Ababa indicated that the exercise since its inception has been warmly welcomed by customers due to the intensive education.
He stressed that introduction of the prepaid metres will ensure economical use of electricity, as consumers will do away with the practice of leaving electrical gadgets and lighting on even when not in use.
“We will continuously educate the public on the need to adapt to the prepaid meters, which will go a long way in enabling NEDco to meet its obligation of ensuring reliable power supply,” he said, and urged the public to cooperate with management for the project’s success.