Electricity consumers in the country are using more power than the expected 8 percent yearly growth rate.

This is an indication that the economy is improving and power supply has become more stable, according to the Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Dr. Shaffic Suleman.

Speaking on PM Express on Joy News, Dr. Suleman indicated that demand for power is expanding at a pace faster than energy planners anticipated.

“We are now consuming more power beyond what has been projected,” he said. “We are looking at an annual projection of 8% per annum, but I can assure you that we are moving. We are moving far faster than that.”

He attributed the development to a combination of improved electricity reliability and growing economic confidence, which has encouraged households and businesses to increase usage. According to him, previously suppressed demand is now being released as consumers respond to a more stable power supply environment.

“And it’s because of the stability and availability of power, and then the suppressed demand is now being curtailed, so more consumers are coming on board generally, thanks to the stability of the economy,” he explained.

The surge in consumption comes at a critical time, as government advances plans for a 24-hour economy a policy expected to significantly increase industrial and commercial activity.

Dr. Suleman suggested that the rising demand reinforces the need for urgent expansion of generation capacity to avoid future supply gaps.

“So we have to be fast with additional capacity,” he stated.

He disclosed that discussions at the highest level of government are already underway to strengthen the country’s generation base. “President Mahama and the Minister of Energy, John Jinapor, are working towards adding additional capacity and ensuring that we have enough,” he said.

Dr. Suleman further noted that peak load levels are reaching unfamiliar thresholds, a sign that economic activity is intensifying and placing new demands on the grid.

“Peak load is also experiencing targets or points that we are not familiar with, and obviously, the economy is growing, so we need power,” he added.

While assuring that current supply remains stable, he stressed the importance of forward planning to sustain growth and meet anticipated demand between 2027 and 2029.

“Power is available, so all we need to do now is to think of how best or how fast we can get additional capacity to come in and supplement, especially going towards 2027 to 29.”

The latest figures position the energy sector as both a beneficiary of economic recovery and a critical enabler of Ghana’s next phase of growth, underscoring the urgency of timely infrastructure expansion.

The Communications Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), William Boateng, has asserted that heat conditions, wiring and earthing are most likely contributing factors to excessive electricity consumption affecting its customers.

This was in response to concerns from sections of the public who have made claims of being overcharged and that their prepaid credit no longer lasts as long as before.

In an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Boateng advised customers to frequently check for possible electrical faults in their homes.

“When the heat increases, someone can even double the use of cooling appliances. That alone can affect your consumption. Sometimes the issue may be with wiring or earthing. That is why we have certified electrical contractors who can check whether there is leakage or any fault affecting consumption,” he said.”

Mr. Boateng urged customers who notice irregularities in their billing to report them directly to ECG for investigation, so that engineers can inspect the meter, review consumption patterns, and identify the cause of the problem.

“We work with machines; it is not about defending anything. There could be a margin of error. If your bill exceeds what you expected or your credit finishes unusually fast, report it to ECG,” he urged, adding that, "When customers report, we can properly investigate, analyse the situation, and resolve it if there is a genuine problem," he assured.

Last year, the Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Professor Alex Dodoo, warned of the dangers associated with uncalibrated electricity meters which were in use nationwide.

These uncalibrated metres being utilised by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), he said, did not guarantee the protection of consumers and also are not able to hold industry accountable for fair charges.

Calibration of meters ensures that energy usage is measured accurately, preventing overbilling or underbilling for consumers.

His comments came amid growing public concerns of overbilling, inconsistent power supply, and inefficiencies in the power-producing company’s services.

Speaking at a stakeholder conference organized by the International Electrotechnical Commission yesterday, May 20, 2025 in Accra, Prof. Dodoo revealed that many ECG meters in circulation had not been calibrated or verified by the Ghana Standards Authority, as has been mandated by the National Instrumentation Regulation NI2413.

“Very few of our meters have been calibrated and verified by the GSA. If the meter you are using has not been calibrated or verified by the Ghana Standards Authority, as required by NI2413, its accuracy is questionable. We simply cannot vouch for it,” he said.

Prof. Dodoo said meters not being calibrated put consumers at risk of under- and overbilling.

The NI2413 law mandates that all electricity meters in circulation must be calibrated and verified by the GSA to ensure accuracy, fair billing, and energy efficiency.

Additionally, the Weights and Measures Decree, NRCD 326 of 1975, empowers the GSA to oversee legal metrology, ensuring that measuring instruments used in trade and industry meet standardized accuracy requirements.

However, to resolve this, he mentioned that his outfit is currently working with the ECG and Public Utility and Regulatory Commission (PURC) to configure the millions of meters currently in circulation in the country.

“The law states it must be verified and calibrated. Thankfully, we are working with ECG and PURC to ensure that all the millions of meters in Ghana are properly calibrated and verified by the GSA,” he noted.

He also linked the issue to national development, emphasizing its importance in the government's ambition to implement a 24-hour economy.

“And I know it's a very troubling issue. But as we support the President in rolling out a 24-hour economy, it's important that we provide the quality infrastructure that will make the 24-hour economy succeed,” he concluded.

In the same year, the government, through the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, approved the procurement of 200 new transformers for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to strengthen power transmission and distribution to major cities across the country.

The sector minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, made information public on May 28, 2025 during the opening session of the 18th West Africa Mining and Power Exhibition (WAMPEX) at the Grand Arena and Accra International Convention Centre (AICC) in Accra.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) made a formal request for 200 new transformers in April 2025, and after barely a month, the government gave the green light for the deployment of the transformers.

“Despite the challenges we inherited, recent reports show that power generation has been very stable” What we need to do is improve the transmission and distribution network. In this regard, I have granted approval to ECG as a matter of urgency to inject about 200 transformers in our major capital cities in order to ensure that we not only generate power but we can distribute power to (sic) consumers effectively and efficiently,” Mr Jinapor said.

Minister Jinapor noted that initial challenges with power generation have been stabilized, and Ghana is now exporting electricity to neighboring countries. The current focus is on improving power transmission and distribution systems.

WAMPEX, the largest forum for mining and power industries in West Africa, attracted over 240 exhibitors from 30 countries and more than 5,000 visitors this year.

The event, however provided a platform for industry professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss challenges, innovations, and future opportunities.