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Mr John Jinapor (inset), Deputy Minister of Power, launching the Ghana Renewable Energy Fair in Accra. MAIN PICTURE: Some participants. Pictures: GABRIEL AHIABOR

Task force on electricity meters set up to ensure value for money

The Ministry of Power has set up a task force led by the Energy Commission to carry out a technical audit of all electricity meters to ensure that they read in line with the tariffs set by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).

Announcing the decision to embark on the exercise, the Deputy Minister of Power, Mr John Jinapor, said following the new tariffs set by the PURC last year, there were incessant complaints by consumers about over billing by the ECG.

Reason 

The minister explained that it was as a result of the numerous complaints by consumers about the integrity of the meters that the ministry took the lead role in undertaking the exercise.

Mr Jinapor was speaking at the launch of the second Ghana Renewable Energy Fair in Accra yesterday. The fair, which is scheduled to come off from August 9 to 11 2016, would be on the theme “Renewable energy and energy efficiency – Accelerating access and security.” 

He also disclosed that the ministry had launched a competitive tender programme to procure wholesale variable electricity as a strategy to accelerate the attainment of 10 per cent renewable energy.

Mr Jinapor said when that was done, it would bring about price reduction in the energy industry.

Collaboration

Mr Jinapor said the procurement of a 20-megawatt solar plant under design, finance, build and manage model had advanced significantly.

The minister said the government and the private sector were making efforts to transform the renewable energy sector.

He indicated that the enactment of the Renewable Energy Act had created the enabling environment for the development and utilisation of the country’s renewable energy resources.

He said the fair would serve as a collaboration involving the government, the private sector and civil society for the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

It would also ensure the facilitation of investment in the sector and create linkages between the various stakeholders in the energy efficiency space.

Access, security

The board chairman of the Energy Commission, Dr Kwame Ampofo, said energy access and security were two major pillars of the country’s energy policy.

“By this policy, Ghana hopes to attain 100 per cent penetration rate of electricity by the year 2020. In addition, the policy requires that we attain energy security to ensure sufficient energy in the system to meet the rapidly growing demand,” he said.

This year’s fair would bring together all actors in the sector to collectively develop a vibrant and viable market and also expedite the promotion of widespread adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies for sustainable economic growth in the country.

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