Evolution and Efficiencies of Energy Metering Technologies in Ghana
This paper examined the efficiencies of the evolved energy metering technologies used by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) vis-à-vis their metering challenge. We used literature survey and field interactions with ECG experts and electricity consumers in Ghana in order to firmly conclude. This paper determined that the types of Post-paid and Prepaid metering technologies employed so far never addressed ECG’s metering challenge. The Prepaid metering technology, being the latest, was found to be more porous to energy theft and fraud or illegal connections than even the traditional postpaid technology. The economic conditions of energy consumers, their corrupted instincts, the “customer factor”/tamper possibility of meters, the technical know-how of the flaws in installed metering technology and sometimes instigations from technical experts propelled consumers to take advantage of the technological porosity to manipulate the metering system to their advantage. Advanced Metering Technology (AMT) whose billing system runs parallel with mobile phone billing system, without the “customer factor”, was recommended to address ECG’s metering challenges.
