ECG meters on poles

There is growing tension between the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) over installation of electricity meters on poles outside homes.

ECG maintains that the installation of meters on poles is to check power theft through meter by-pass and direct connection of meters, but the GNFS says the meters on poles have been causing fire outbreaks.

A document made available to The Finder indicates that 35 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in the country last year as a result of the meters mounted on poles.

Commenting on the issue, the acting Head of Public Relations of the GNFS, Divisional Officer Grade three (DOIII) Ellis Robinson Okoe stated that ECG embarked on a pilot project of replacing old meters with new ones.

According to him, these new meters are being fixed on poles outside homes, which expose them to the vulgarities of the weather.

He stated that when that exposure happens, arching occurs, which exposes wires to each other, leading to sparks that culminate into fire outbreaks.

DOIII Robinson Okoe explained that arching is where the insulators get broken and peel off due to weather conditions.

He noted that the conventional way where meters were fixed indoors was safer, compared to fixing them on poles outside, adding that the mounting of the meters on electric poles was inconvenient to consumers as well.

When asked whether GNFS contacted ECG about the situation, he said ECG claimed they were unaware of the situation.

DOIII Robinson Okoe, therefore, entreated ECG to take proactive measures to prevent further occurrences, adding that fire fighting costs the nation millions of cedis.

He also advised individuals to put off their main switches before they leave home, to avoid fire outbreaks caused by power outages.

When contacted, Ing. Mrs Sariel A. Atwire, Sectional Manager for Metering Services of ECG, said Ghana is not the first country to install meters on poles.

According to her, she is yet to receive a written complaint from the Fire Service about the meters causing fire.

She said ECG would have to investigate the cause of the fires as the meters have lightening arresters that protect it from lightening.