ECG Alerts Customers To Buy Enough Power To Last 1-month

Some offices and vending points of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is set to witness chaotic scenes in the coming days, following the Company’s urgent notice to customers, using Nuri prepaid meters, to purchase enough power that could last them for at least one month.

The move, according to the power distributing company, became necessary due to an upgrade of the Standard Transfer Specifications (STS) metering systems scheduled to take place.

As a result, the company, is advising customers to top up their meter credit to avoid potential disruptions during the exercise.

A notice issued on Saturday, November 23, said ‘The Electricity Company of Ghana Limited wishes to inform our cherished customers using the Nuri Prepayment Meters that, as part of the Standard Transfer Specifications (STS) protocol, it has become urgent to upgrade all STS metering systems, including the NURI Prepayment system.

Please buy enough top-up credit that will last for at least one month in order not to experience vending disruptions that might arise out of the ongoing Nuri meter upgrading exercise”.

When completed, the upgrade is anticipated to enhance the system’s efficiency and ensure uninterrupted vending services for customers.

Widespread Criticism

The announcement, has been met with widespread criticism from the public, who are questioning the timing of the exercise with barely 12 days to the crucial December 7, polls.

Many believe, the exercise should have been put on hold until the election is over, given the level of mistrust and suspicion between the two main political parties (NPP and NDC), as well as the Electoral Commission (EC).

Some have also argued that, not every customer has the resources to top up to last for a period of one month, and therefore, the development, could leave many in darkness, despite the critical period of the country at the moment.

Call for Help

To expedite the upgrade, ECG, is encouraging customers to contact its call centre or reach it, via its social media platforms for assistance.

The company emphasised that, the upgrade is critical and necessary to maintain a smooth and reliable service for its customers.

“For your convenience and the immediate upgrade of your NURIp Prepayment meters, please call our call centre on 0302611611 or contact us via our social media platforms (ECGghOffical) for out expedited action. Please note that this is a crucially mandatory STS upgrade designed to enhance uninterrupted vending services, the statement.

Sunon Asogli To Resume Operations

Meanwhile, the acting Managing Director (MD) of the ECG, Ing. David Asamoah, has announced that Independent Power Producer (IPP), Sunon Asogli, will resume operations in the coming weeks.

According to Mr Asamoah, the ECG, is making significant progress in resolving the financial issues that led to the power plant’s shutdown after it shutdown in October,  leading to intermitted power supply.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, November 23, he revealed that ECG, has intensified efforts to clear its debts to SunonAsogli and other producers by implementing a weekly payment schedule instead of the monthly payment structure.

“SunonAsogli has gone off because of debts. But the good news about Sunon Asogli is that they are going to be back in the coming weeks because we have almost resolved the issue that made them go off,” he said.

“We started paying them on a weekly basis, not monthly.”

SunonA sogli Power Ltd. ceased operations due to ECG’s inability to settle an outstanding debt of $259 million to IPPs.

As one of the largest power plants in the country, Sunon provides over 560MW (750, 000 hp) representing 12-15 percent of the nation’s electricity

The company explained that the shutdown was necessary as it could no longer sustain operations without the overdue payments being honoured.

The Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, had announced that Ghana’s power supply is expected to stabilise following a renegotiated agreement between the government and Sunon Asogli.

He said the new deal aims to address the financial disagreements that caused the temporary shutdown.

On the back of this, Mr Asamoah, reiterated ECG’s commitment to fulfilling its financial obligations, emphasizing the steps taken to demonstrate good faith.

“I have had that conversation with them and to show good faith, we have started paying to show that we are just not talking but we are acting to what we have agreed going forward,” he said.

He further noted that ECG began its payment schedule on October 8, 2024.

“We paid that week, then the following week, but because the payments were insufficient, they [Asogli] decided not to resume operations,” he explained.

In a related development, the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Power Producers, Dr Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, has hinted that three power plants are set to shut down due to debts owed to them.

Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Tuesday, Dr Apetorgbor warned that if the issue remains unresolved, the three key power plants will cease operations by next week.

“If nothing is done by the end of this week, next week, three key power plants will shut down,” he warned.