The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is preparing to pilot a new pre-payment system to enhance service delivery to its clients in the Volta Region.

The system would enable non-smart prepaid meter users to purchase credit from the comfort of their homes through the use of a special ECG card reader, and the Brassica App.

The General Manageress of ECG, incharge of the Volta and Oti Regions, Christina Kaleo-Jatoe who announced this at a press engagement said the pilot project would commence in the first quarter of 2025.

She said the project is targeted at resolving the challenges of non-smart meter clients being unable to purchase prepaid credit at odd hours.

She detailed that the pilot project would start with 200 meters in the Ho and Hohoe Districts before being expanded to other parts of the Volta Region.

“When we return from the break, we will pilot about 200 meters. Before we do these things, we do a piloting, we don't just start. The piloting will help us to see some of the challenges that we are likely to encounter, and we use that opportunity to address them before we roll out.

“So, when that is done, Volta we will be starting a new payment system. This means we will replace all the existing old prepaid systems. Most of them are not functioning well and then we roll out from Ho going out. For now, we have two main districts that are on prepaid, Ho and Hohoe. So, we start with them and then bring other districts on board”, she said.

She further indicated that the strength of network connectivity would inform a decision to expand the service to cover a particular jurisdiction since the system solely depends on the internet to render services.

The Volta and Oti Regional Commercial Manager Solomon Adziku, explained that customers on non-smart prepaid meters would need a smartphone and the Brassica App to be able to access the system.

He said the App available on Play and App Stores has been designed to enable subscribers to purchase credit through mobile money wallets on any network of their choice.

“When you have this, [Brassica prepaid card reader] you wouldn't need to go to any vendor, you download the app on your phone and just insert this [Brassica prepaid card reader] into your phone and put the card in it and then you buy right from your MoMo”, he explained.

The power distribution company is also undertaking some injection works by expanding power supply, upgrading transformers, building substations, and double satisfier lines to ensure uninterrupted power supply to clients in the Volta and Oti Regions.