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ELECTRICITY COMPANY OF GHANA

LOCATION : Electro-Volta House, 28 th February Road, Accra

ADDRESS: Post Office Box GP521 , Accra , GHANA

TEL: +233 21 676727, 676747

E-MAIL: ecgho@ghana.com

FAX: +233 – 21 - 666262

Primary Function of institution

· To transmit, supply and distribute electricity within Ghana .

· To purchase electrical energy in bulk from VRA for distribution.

· To construct, re-construct, assemble, repair, maintain, operate or remove

electrical generating stations, sub-transmission lines, transformer sub-stations,

electrical appliances, fittings and installations.

· To sell, hire, or otherwise dispose of electrical appliances and fittings.

Enabling Legislation

The Electricity Corporation of Ghana was established by the National Liberation council (NLCD 125) issued on 20 th January, 1967.

By Executive Instrument No. 59 dated June 29, 1967, all assets and liabilities of the former Electricity Department under the Ministry of Works and Housing were vested in the new Electricity Corporation of Ghana .

The Electricity Company of Ghana was incorporated under the companies' code, 1963 (Act 179) limited by shares on the 21 st day of February 1997. It took over all the assets and liabilities of the Electricity Corporation of Ghana .

History of ECG

The first Government sponsored public electricity supply in the country began in the year 1914 at Sekondi using diesel engines. It was operated by the then Railway Administration which extended supply to Takoradi in 1928.

Earlier in 1922, the Public Works Department (P.W.D.) had started a limited direct current (DC) supply in Accra ; this had also been followed by a large alternating current (AC) project in 1924.

The subsequent years (1926 – 1948) saw Kumasi , Koforidua, Winneba, Cape Coast, Tamale, Tarkwa, Aburi, Tafo, all enjoying electricity.

In 1949, Oda, Dunkwa, Bolgatanga and Swedru all had power generating plants.

Then in 1964, Keta, Ho and Tema also had their share of electricity with the Tema station becoming the biggest single diesel powered generating station in Africa at the time.

Asamankese, Saltpond, Teshie, Sunyani, Nkawkaw, Akwatia, Obuasi and Nkroful followed suit with their own stations.

The advent of the Volta Dam at Akosombo managed by the Volta River Authority (VRA) occasioned the spread of electricity wider to various parts of the country until 1967, when the ECG was born by NLCD. 125 making it an autonomous organisation to operate purely on commercial lines.

Key Activities

The Company performs the following key activities:

· Design and construction of the network

· Operate, maintain, supervise and safe control of network operations

· Market, distribute, sell and bill electric power to customers.

· Collect billed revenue

· Financial Accounting and Management

· Human Resource Development and Training

· Public Information and Education

· Reporting to stakeholders and Regulators

· Materials and Transport Management and Control.

· Enforcement of Internal Management Controls and Audit

· Contract preparation, negotiation, supervision, control and Management

Information of General Interest

Voltage and Type of Supply.

All customers are supplied with the alternating current (AC) at a frequency of 50 Hertz. The standard voltages are 230 volts ± 10% single phase 2 wire, 400 volts ± 10% three phase 4 wire. Customers with demands above 800 KW may be supplied at 11,000 or 33,000 volts.

Application for Supply Application for supply and additional connections for supply should be made by completing an Application for Supply of Electricity Form which is available at the ECG District Office or the Customer, Services Centre in the applicant's area.

Electrical Installation

Customers' electrical installation and maintenance should be carried out by licensed electrical contractors in accordance with the company's code of practice for electrical equipment in buildings. A list of such contractors is available for inspection at local offices of the Company.

Tariffs:

Charges for electricity are in accordance with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission's (PURC) approved tariffs in force at the time and are obtainable at ECG's local offices. Bills are payable monthly.

Major Achievements over the last 5 years (1998 – 2003).

· Construction of 2 nd Bulk Supply Point at Mallam – Gbawe in Accra in 2002 to improve the voltage and reliability of supply.

· Construction of 9 no. New Customer Service Centres to bring ECG's services to the doorstep of customers.

· Introduction of Prepaid Meters 1n 1945. To date about 20,000 prepaid meters have been installed.

· Upgrade of 12 no. Power transformers in nine primary sub-stations. Installation of 135 no. 33kv switchgears and 67 no. 11kv circuit breakers.

· 38km of 33kv underground cables were laid. 1949 no. distribution transformers have been installed. Also, 3,703 km of 11kv overhead lines and 188km of 11kv underground cables were laid and 351 townships were electrified under the rural component of the NEP.

· A total of twelve (12) new District Offices were established to bring ECG's services closer to its customers.

· Extension of supply to all District Capitals to improve the quality of life and accelerate rural development.

· Demarcation of Kumasi into two Regional offices in 2003 to improve customer services. 105 System Improvement Projects completed in June 2002 to improve voltage levels, contain the incidence of power outages and fluctuations and restore supply to areas which were without supply as a result of burnt or faulty transformers.

Key elements from Corporate/Strategic Plan relating to years 2003 – 2005

· Achieve our covenants with our lenders, which include a rate of return of 8% on Average Net Fixed Assets and Debt Service Coverage 1.5 times.

· Become the number one choice for the supply of reliable, safe and adequate electricity at competitive price;

· Continue with programmes of rehabilitation, reinforcement and expansion of the distribution system to meet present and future customer needs;

· Practice an appropriate maintenance culture which will prolong the life span of all physical assets to ensure maximum utilisation;

· Cooperate with the Government and other relevant agencies in the demand and supply management of the electric power for the success of the National Electrification Scheme.

· Continue to develop our human resources for effective and efficient performance;

· Design, construct, install and operate our distribution systems to such standards that will ensure environmental friendliness.

· Co-operate with Government and the World Bank to fully implement the restructuring and divestiture of the company.

· Provide proactive customer services to the entire customer class with the view to satisfying the customers beyond their expectation.

· Practice Total Quality Management (TQM) as a way of life in the organisation.

· Embrace Information Communication Technology (ICT) changes to ensure the company is abreast with the modern approaches in the Business World.

Contact Telephone numbers of Regional Directorates & Special Units

· Accra –East (021) 662412, 665548

· Accra – West (021) 249165, 249168

· Tema (022) 206704, 202033

· Western (031) 23181, 23182, 23183, 23184, 23975, 22540

· Central (042) 32084, 32948

· Eastern (081) 22287, 22695

· Volta (091) 28296, 26082

· Ashanti-East (051) 37176

· Ashanti-West (051) 25385, 25384

· Sub-Transmission (021) 671560, 664453, 664549

· Tema Training School (022) 304838

GNPC Activity Map