The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) says the 100 per cent absorption of the electricity bills for lifeline customers on both the prepaid and postpaid metering systems as directed by the government will be realised from August 2020 to January 2021.
This was contained in a press statement signed and issued by the Managing Director of ECG, Mr Kwame Agyeman-Budu, as the company outlined a strategic guideline for the implementation of the government’s extension of the free electricity relief package for Ghanaians.
This follows a decision by the government to absorb the electricity bills of consumers to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Ghanaians.
Explanation
Explaining how the absorption would be implemented for lifeline prepaid customers, the ECG said customers on smart prepaid meters would be automatically credited each month with their free lifeline units, while customers on the non-smart prepaid meters would have to visit their vending points to recharge in order to receive their free life line units each month.
It said the government’s absorption of bills for postpaid lifeline customers would reflect from August, 2020.
The ECG urged customers to contact its district offices with any challenge, adding that “Management wishes to assure lifeline customers and stakeholders that it has resolved to implement this directive to the letter”.
Background
In his 14th address to the nation, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the extension of free electricity and water relief packages after the initial one ended in June.
The government had earlier absorbed fully electricity bills for one million active lifeline customers, granted 50 per cent subsidy on electricity bills of all other customers and granted free access to water for all households across the country.
“Government is also extending free electricity supply to lifeline tariff customers until the end of the year,” President Akufo-Addo said.