ECG TO BEGIN NATIONWIDE METER AUDIT EXERCISE TO FIGHT ELECTRICITY THEFT – NO MORE INDIVIDUAL LETTERS
ECG TO BEGIN NATIONWIDE METER AUDIT EXERCISE TO FIGHT ELECTRICITY THEFT – NO MORE INDIVIDUAL LETTERS
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced a massive nationwide meter audit exercise to begin immediately across all its operational areas, as part of efforts to reduce commercial losses, improve revenue collection and combat electricity theft.
This announcement was made in a public statement on Tuesday, 20th October 2026, and it has since generated over 800 reactions on social media as Ghanaians share their experiences with faulty meters and illegal connections.
According to ECG, the exercise will involve the inspection and verification of all types of meters – both prepaid and postpaid meters, as well as Special Load Tariff (SLT) installations which are mostly used by factories, large businesses and estates, and their associated wiring systems.
The main objective, ECG says, is to check the integrity of metering systems and ensure that electricity consumption is accurately measured and billed. For years, ECG has been losing billions of cedis due to commercial losses, which include electricity theft, bypassed meters, faulty meters that under-read, and illegal direct connections.
WHAT ECG SAID
In the public announcement, ECG explained:
“The audit will involve the inspection and verification of prepaid and postpaid meters, Special Load Tariff (SLT) installations and their associated wiring to ensure that electricity consumption is accurately measured and billed. The exercise forms part of efforts to check the integrity of metering systems and address irregularities that contribute to revenue losses.”
The company further announced that this public announcement serves as official notice of the exercise. It said no additional notices, appointment letters or advance notifications would be issued to individual customers.
This means ECG will NOT send you a letter or call you to book an appointment. Once you see this announcement in the media, consider yourself officially notified.
Consequently, customers, landlords, estate managers, property managers, facility managers and security personnel have been advised not to deny, restrict or delay access to authorised ECG personnel on the grounds that they have not received a separate notification letter.
ECG cited Regulation 4(h) of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (Customer Service) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2413), which requires consumers to grant employees of a public utility or its agents safe and reasonable access to their premises to read meters or inspect utility equipment, subject to production of verifiable identification.
HOW TO VERIFY ECG STAFF – TO AVOID FRAUDSTERS
ECG is aware that some criminals may take advantage of this exercise to impersonate ECG staff and dupe customers or rob them. Therefore, the company has put in place strong verification measures.
All ECG employees and authorised agents participating in the exercise will carry official ECG identification cards with their name, photo and staff ID.
Customers are strongly advised to verify the identity of field personnel before allowing them onto their premises.
You can verify in two ways:
1. Call ECG Call Centre: 0302 611 611
2. Use USSD Code: _226# on all networks
– Dial _226#
– Select Option 5 labelled “Verify Staff”
– Enter the six-digit verification code that the staff member will give you
– The system will display the staff member’s full name, region and district
– If the name matches the person at your door, you can allow them in. If not, call police immediately.
WHY THIS EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT NOW
Ghana’s power sector has been facing serious challenges. ECG’s commercial losses are estimated at over 25% – meaning for every 100 units of power purchased, ECG loses 25 units to theft and faulty metering. This contributes to ECG’s debt to Independent Power Producers.
Also, with the recent announcement of ECG’s planned power outages in Tema Region and other areas for maintenance, the company says it needs to ensure that every kilowatt consumed is billed correctly to improve its finances to invest in better infrastructure.
The government, under President John Mahama’s administration, has tasked ECG to reduce losses to below 15% by 2028 as part of energy sector recovery.
WHAT WILL ECG STAFF CHECK?
During the audit, ECG officials will:
– Check if your prepaid meter has been bypassed or tampered with
– Check if your postpaid meter is reading correctly
– Check if your wiring is correct and not causing power theft
– Check if you have illegal connection
– Check if your meter is faulty and needs replacement
– For SLT customers, check maximum demand and power factor
If your meter is found to be tampered with, you will be surcharged and may face prosecution under the law. If your meter is faulty, ECG will replace it free of charge.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
1. Allow ECG staff access after verifying their ID
2. Make sure your meter is accessible – don’t lock it in a room
3. If you have made any illegal connection, visit the nearest ECG office to regularise it before they come – ECG is offering amnesty for those who report themselves
4. Report any suspicious persons claiming to be ECG staff to 0302 611 611 or police
ECG is urging the public to cooperate with its personnel to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise, saying it is in the interest of all Ghanaians to ensure accurate billing and stable power supply.
The exercise is expected to last for several weeks and will cover all 10 ECG operational regions – Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Western, Eastern, Volta, etc.
For more information, contact ECG on 0302 611 611 or follow ECG Ghana Official on Facebook.
