The Sunyani Area Manager of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), Mr Eugene Odoi Addo, has expressed concern about the influx and use of fake electricity meters.

He said the situation remained worrying, saying that it was detrimental to NEDCo’s operations, causing significant losses to the nation.

Mr Addo raised the concern at a programme organised by the Bono Regional office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), worrying that the infiltration of counterfeit meters remained a huge challenge to the company’s operations.

He said there were widespread cases of unregistered devices with about 5,000 fake meters within the company’s operational area, explaining that presently, the NEDCo was collaborating with law enforcement agencies to clamp down on the illegal distribution of meters.

“Just about a month ago, the police assisted us in arresting some individuals transporting meters from Kumasi to the area, and we retrieved four fake meters, and only yesterday, about three more counterfeit meters were also intercepted,” he stated.

Mr Addo regretted that NEDCo sticker logos were often embossed on fake meters to mislead the public and called for strengthened collaboration among stakeholders to help bring the situation under control and to protect both the company and consumers. 
 
Mr Patrick Antwi, the Bono and Ahafo Regional Manager of the PURC, also called for strengthened mechanisms to stem the infiltration of the fake meters into the market.