Over 300 electricity meters have been confiscated from residents in Tamale by the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) over alleged power theft.
The company carried out the early morning operation over two days, targeting homes in the Kalpohin and Kukuo communities at dawn.
Maxwell Kotoka, NEDCo’s Corporate Communications Manager, said the team caught over 300 people illegally bypassing their meters.
He explained that many residents had connected to power directly without proper measurement.
“What we have done in just two days, to go at the break of day between 5:30 and 6:30, and so far we have done only two communities. We have found more than 300 who are culpable, who have engaged in bypass, meter power theft,” he said.
Earlier, NEDCo revealed that it loses about 46% of its electricity due to theft. This situation continues to threaten the company’s finances.
The problem is especially serious in the Tamale Metropolis, where illegal connections and tampering reduce revenue significantly.
Mr Kotoka also said that many of the offenders damaged their meters while trying to bypass them. He noted that these meters are costly, which adds to the company’s losses.
“The sad part is that in the process they have damaged a good deal of these meters and the meters are pretty expensive. They are smart meters, and so when you destroy them like this, we the consumers are the very same people who will come and complain that when we ask for meters we don’t get,” he said.
He explained that the damage affects the company’s ability to supply new customers. Instead of installing meters for new applicants, NEDCo must now replace the destroyed ones.
“Now look at the challenge we have. When we invest in meters and in two days, two communities can destroy in excess of 300 when we bring the next set of meters we are compelled to replace the damaged meters instead of spreading them and making them available to new applicants,” he said.
Mr Kotoka also connected the theft issue to wider power supply challenges. He said the company has installed new transformers in several areas, including seven in the Tamale Metropolis. Others have been set up in Kpandai, Kete Krachi, and Bimbilla.
He added that NEDCo replaced 11 transformers at the start of the project. Tamale received seven, Kpandai got two, while Kete Krachi and Bimbilla each received one.
“If the government invests in these and people steal power instead of paying, then it has consequences at the end,” he said.
