The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), the primary power supplier for the five Northern regions of Ghana, has raised serious concerns about widespread power theft and meter tampering in the Tamale area.
These illegal activities are causing the company to incur significant financial losses, amounting to millions of cedis annually.
NEDCo has reported various methods of power theft being employed by residents.
One such method involves tampering with meters through illegal connections, which can cause major disruptions.
In one instance, an illegal connection blew the main fuse of a meter, affecting other residents in the area.
Additionally, some individuals are bypassing the meter wiring to use electricity directly without paying.
Another common tactic involves opening the relay and closing it permanently, allowing current to flow without being recorded for billing purposes.
NEDCo has also noted that many customers are refusing to come forward to be billed for the power they have consumed illegally.
This refusal has worsened the company’s financial challenges and undermines efforts to maintain a reliable power supply in the region.
The company is urging residents to adhere to legal electricity usage practices and cooperate with NEDCo to ensure fair and accurate billing.