The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has disclosed that it lacks the capacity to conduct large-scale testing of electricity meters, despite rising complaints from consumers about the unusually rapid depletion of prepaid power units.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Dr. Eric Kofi Obutey, Director of Research and Corporate Affairs at PURC, said the Commission’s meter laboratory is limited in scope.
“We can test about two to three meters at a time. For serious, large-scale testing, we rely on the Ghana Standards Authority to calibrate meters and ensure those in circulation meet the required standards,” he explained.
Dr. Obutey stated that while PURC occasionally conducts random checks on meters to verify billing accuracy, the practice is not routine. Customers who experience issues are first advised to report them to their respective utility providers. Where necessary, the Commission deploys engineers to investigate and test individual meters.
He added that PURC collaborates with the Energy Commission of Ghana to monitor service quality using system and customer average indices.
However, he acknowledged that there is currently no formal index to track the rapid depletion of prepaid units, making on-site inspections critical for gathering data.
The remarks come amid growing public concern over meter irregularities and rising electricity costs, underscoring the need to strengthen testing capacity to ensure fairness and reliability in billing.