As part of efforts to ensure utility meters provide accurate and reliable measurement, the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), in partnership with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and other partners, has held a stakeholder meeting to discuss the impending enforcement of the PURC Consumer Service Regulation, 2020 (L.I 2413) and the GSA Act (2022), which requires every electricity meter to be verified or calibrated by the Authority before sale.
The meeting was held at the head office of the Authority on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
The enforcement was expected to take effect from July 1, 2024, but it was agreed by both stakeholders and partners, including the GSA, PURC and ECG during the meeting, that the decision be postponed to give them ample time to understand and prepare adequately for the processes involved.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Metrology, Mr. Prince Arthur, expressed his appreciation to the stakeholders for their resolve to comply with the directive and assured them of the GSA’s support to help them adhere to the directive.
Professor Alex Dodoo, the Director-General of GSA, for his part, pledged the Authority’s support in helping them to meet the meter testing requirements and appealed to the stakeholders to be patient and support them in executing their mandate.
He assured the stakeholders of the Authority’s professionalism and continued partnership with the regulators in ensuring that energy meters read accurately and provide the right units for clients.
In December last year, the GSA set up the country’s first independent Meter Testing Laboratory to check and give assurance that an electricity meter provides accurate and reliable measurement.
The installation aligns with regulation 24 of the PURC (Consumer Service) Regulations, 2020 (LI 2413), which mandates the GSA to rigorously test and approve utility meters before installation.