The distribution of electricity in the southern part of Ghana falls under the jurisdiction of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). This encompasses the Greater Accra, Central, Western, Western North, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, and Oti regions. Within these regions, ECG serves an extensive customer base, exceeding 4 million customers, making it the largest electricity service provider in Ghana, representing approximately 80% of the total customer count. Furthermore, ECG is responsible for the distribution of 87.8% of the total electricity supplied throughout Ghana.
Grid Electricity Purchase, Sales and Losses Incurred by ECG (GWh)
The losses refer to the difference between the amount of electricity ECG buys from GRIDCo and what it manages to sell to its customers. These losses fall into two categories: technical and commercial. Technical losses result from inefficiencies in the power grid. Commercial losses occur when customers do not fully pay for the electricity they use, which can happen due to billing errors, non-payment, or electricity theft.
Percentage (%) of Electricity Distribution Losses
This chart illustrates the distribution losses (both commercial and technical) as a percentage of the total energy purchased by ECG. In 2023, the percentage of distribution losses was recorded at 26.9%, which represents a slight decrease from the 30.6% loss observed in 2022. Despite this reduction, the losses remain higher than those recorded in earlier years, such as 2015, when they stood at 22.7%. The data highlights ongoing fluctuations in the percentage of distribution losses over the years.
ECG's Average Electricity Interruption Frequency
System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) measures how often a customer experiences power outages during an operational year. The regulatory benchmark permits up to six outages annually in metro, urban, and rural areas.
In 2023, the frequency of outages in ECG’s distribution areas was 12 interruptions in metro areas, 18 interruptions in urban areas, and 17 interruptions in rural areas. None of these areas met their respective regulatory benchmarks. While service reliability has improved compared to previous years, all three areas still exceeded the allowed number of interruptions, highlighting ongoing challenges in meeting the reliability standards.
ECG's Average Electricity Interruption Duration
System interruption duration is measured by the average duration of interruptions recorded for the distribution system during an operational year. Regulatory benchmarks vary by area, with 48 hours in metro, 72 hours in urban, and 144 hours in rural zones.
In 2023, ECG’s distribution areas recorded an average interruption duration of 22 hours in metro areas, 31 hours in urban areas, and 32 hours in rural areas. None of the areas exceeded their respective regulatory benchmarks, with metro areas staying well below the 48-hour threshold, urban areas under the 72-hour benchmark, and rural areas well within the 144-hour limit.