{
  "id": 19722109,
  "title": "ECG prepaid meters: 2 million to be deployed as private firms enter distribution",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/ecg-prepaid-meters-2-million-to-be-deployed-as-private-firms-enter",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T22:55:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "3News",
    "slug": "3news",
    "url": "https://3news.com/business/energy/ecg-prepaid-meters-private-distribution-2027-budget"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two million prepaid meters are set to be installed by private firms, as part of efforts to reduce distribution losses in the power sector by the end of 2027. This announcement came alongside the 2027 Budget presentation before Parliament on November 12, with Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson outlining plans for performance-based private-sector involvement in electricity distribution. Although the government asserts that this arrangement does not constitute a sale of the Electricity Company of Ghana, critics, such as the Trades Union Congress, have expressed their opposition. The budget attributes issues like high tariffs, leaky distribution, poor revenue collection, fuel risks, and accumulated obligations to the financial strain on businesses and the national budget. In 2025, the energy sector faced a shortfall of nearly US$1.4 billion, with arrears owed to power producers and fuel suppliers reaching around US$1.7 billion. The investments in generation, grid modernisation, and distribution are expected to eliminate the US$1.4 billion annual taxpayer-funded energy sector shortfall. Generating a kilowatt-hour is projected to cost 8 cents or less, down from approximately 16 US cents. The budget allocates GH¢50 million for lifeline consumers and GH¢13 billion to cover payment shortfalls and maintain steady supply for consumers. Additionally, GH¢3 billion will fund rural electrification efforts across six regions, with the north-south transmission network set to be strengthened. The government will invest US$500 million in modernising the transmission system from 2027 to 2030, with the phasing out of costly emergency power plants by 2030, supported by a new 1,450MW thermal plant and a 600MW solar plant equipped with battery storage. The budget remains silent on potential tariff changes, the specific private firms involved, and the initial deployment locations for the two million prepaid meters.",
  "summary": "The 2027 Budget promises 2 million prepaid meters and private firms in power distribution by end-2027, plus GH¢50m for lifeline users.",
  "key_points": [
    "Two million prepaid meters to be installed by private firms",
    "Announcement made during 2027 Budget presentation",
    "Budget aims to reduce distribution losses by 2027"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}