PURC Assures Ghanaians; ECG Meter Audit Will Not Disadvantage Electricity Consumers

According to a report by Citi FM on Monday October 26, 2026, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has reassured electricity consumers across Ghana that the planned nationwide meter audit by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) will not be conducted in a manner that puts them at a disadvantage.

The assurance comes amid growing public interest and concerns about the purpose, scope and possible implications of the exercise, which is expected to cover electricity meters and related installations across ECG’s operational areas.

The audit forms part of ECG’s efforts to reduce commercial losses, strengthen revenue collection and address electricity theft. It will involve the inspection and verification of prepaid and postpaid meters, Special Load Tariff (SLT) installations and associated wiring to establish the integrity of metering systems and promote accurate measurement and billing of electricity consumption.

However, the announcement of the exercise has raised questions among consumers about how the inspections will be carried out and whether the process could result in unexpected charges or other difficulties for electricity users.

Addressing these concerns, PURC Executive Secretary, Dr Shafic Suleman, said the Commission would carefully examine ECG’s proposed audit framework and engage the power distribution company to ensure that appropriate safeguards were put in place to protect consumers.

Speaking to Citi News, Dr Suleman stressed that the regulator would not leave consumers uncertain about an exercise that could directly affect their electricity services.

“Be rest assured that we are going to look at the audit framework again and probably summarise the content of it and make it available to the Ghanaian consumer from the perspective of ECG before they even go. So, let’s not be too interested in the issues but let’s defer it to the hands of the regulator.

“We will be engaging ECG further to ensure that in the audit framework, whatever we think the consumer needs to know, we will make it available for the consumer to know.

At the same time, PURC is going to scrutinise the framework once again to ensure that it doesn’t affect the consumer negatively. And they will also be safe-guided because that’s the reason why we are there. We are there to serve the Ghanaian consumer.”

Dr Suleman explained that the Commission intended to make the information surrounding the audit more accessible so that electricity users could understand the reasons behind the inspections, the procedures involved and what would be expected of them.

The move is also expected to help address misconceptions and prevent unnecessary anxiety among households, businesses and other electricity consumers ahead of the exercise.

According to ECG, the nationwide audit is designed to improve the reliability of its metering systems and ensure that electricity consumption is properly recorded and billed.

The company has also indicated that the public announcement serves as official notice of the exercise, meaning customers should not automatically reject authorised personnel simply because they have not received individual notification letters.

Nevertheless, the PURC has emphasised that protecting consumers remains central to its regulatory responsibilities.

Its review of the framework is intended to ensure that the audit is carried out transparently and that consumers are adequately informed about any procedures that may affect their premises or electricity accounts.

The Commission’s intervention comes at a time when electricity billing and meter accuracy remain important public concerns, with some consumers previously raising questions about their consumption readings and the amounts they are required to pay.

By promising further scrutiny and engagement with ECG, the regulator is seeking to balance the utility company’s efforts to address electricity theft and revenue losses with the need to safeguard customers against unfair treatment.

The PURC is expected to work with ECG to clarify relevant aspects of the audit and communicate essential information to the public before the inspections begin.

Consumers, meanwhile, are encouraged to remain informed and take reasonable precautions when approached by personnel conducting the exercise.

ECG has advised customers to verify the identities of its employees and authorised agents before granting them access to their premises. Verification can be done through the company’s customer call centre on 0302 611 611 or by using the \*226# staff verification service.

The PURC’s latest assurance is intended to reinforce public confidence in the process, with the Commission maintaining that its role is to ensure electricity consumers are protected while legitimate efforts to improve the management of the power distribution system continue.

As preparations for the nationwide exercise progress, the regulator’s review of ECG’s framework is expected to help establish clearer expectations and ensure that consumers understand the process before it is implemented.

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