Vanishing Credit? ECG Denies "Fast Running" Meters, Cites Modernization Accuracy | Discuss Ghana

 

Vanishing Credit? ECG Denies "Fast Running" Meters, Cites Modernization Accuracy

As of Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has addressed growing public frustration over "vanishing credit" by clarifying that it is unaware of any widespread technical faults that would cause meters to run faster than normal.

Speaking on the ongoing concerns from residents in areas like Nima and those near the 37 Military Hospital, ECG’s Director of Communications, William Boateng, explained that the perceived surge in credit consumption is largely a result of the transition from obsolete equipment to highly accurate MMS-compliant smart meters.

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Why Is Your Credit Vanishing?

ECG maintains that the "fast running" meter narrative is a misunderstanding of how the new technology works compared to the old systems.

Accuracy Over Speed: Many older meters (over 10–15 years old) had become sluggish and were under-recording actual electricity usage. The new smart meters are calibrated to international standards and capture every unit consumed, leading to a "shock" for customers used to the older, less accurate readings.

Reconciliation of Debts: Under the Loss Reduction Project (LRP), some customers are experiencing deductions because their new meters are automatically reconciling "unbilled consumption" or unpaid debts from the transition period.

"Postpaid" Mode Glitch: Boateng previously noted that during technical server breaks, some meters defaulted to a "postpaid" mode where users continued to have power without immediate deductions. Once the connection was restored, the system deducted the units consumed during that "break" all at once.

The "MMS-Compliant" Challenge

In late December 2025, ECG acknowledged a technical challenge with its MMS-Compliant Meters that disrupted credit purchases via the PowerApp and short codes (*226#).

While that specific purchase issue was resolved by December 29, 2025, the company noted that any lingering discrepancies in credit balance are usually tied to individual meter reconciliations rather than a systemic "vanishing" error.

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How to Get a Refund or Audit

If you believe your meter is genuinely malfunctioning or that you have been overcharged, ECG provides a clear path for investigation.

Request a Free Check: Customers can visit their nearest ECG District Office to request a formal meter integrity test. If the meter is found to be faulty, it will be replaced at no cost.

Refund Process: ECG has confirmed that credit balances from old meters are transferable. Reconciliations are done remotely or via generated tokens that customers can load manually.

Third-Party Oversight: The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is currently monitoring these complaints. A recent watchdog report from CEMSE Ghana has called for nearly GH¢1.5 billion in over-recovered revenue to be credited back to consumers as part of a tariff reset.