The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has introduced significant changes to its operations, empowering franchise officers, previously known as metre readers, to disconnect electricity supply to defaulting power consumers.

The officers were originally equipped to access and verify meter readings and calculate power consumed by customers during their routine visits to communities.

Public Relations Officer of the ECG in the Ashanti West region, Benjamin Obeng Antwi, emphasised that the franchise officers are now authorised to disconnect power from households with unpaid bills.

“Now the franchise officers have been empowered to disconnect your meter. If they come to your premises and you owe, they show you your bill, and ask you to go and pay,” he said.

Mr Antwi further highlighted ECG’s transition to a cashless payment system. He cautioned customers against making direct payments to franchise officers, explaining that all transactions should be completed through the official ECG mobile app or by using the designated short code on their phones.

“The caveat is that they don’t accept cash. They only let you use the cashless system. Either through the short code *226# or the ECG power app, and you make payments on your own,” he explained.

To ensure legitimacy and customer safety, the franchise officers have been provided with official identification cards and introductory letters from ECG, verifying their authority to carry out these activities.

Mr Antwi also revealed that prepaid meter monitoring has been incorporated into the responsibilities of franchise officers.

This allows these officers to now monitor and manage both postpaid and prepaid meters during their routine visits.

“We have even added a prepaid monitor to their activities. they can come to your premises and monitor your prepaid as well,” he said.

He urged the public to cooperate with franchise officers during these operations to ensure efficient service delivery and to avoid unnecessary disconnections.