NEDCo’s Cockcrow Operation Yields Results as Power Losses Decline

Tamale: The 'Cockcrow Operation' introduced by the Northern Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCo), where officials inspect meters at dawn, has started yielding results, according to Mr. John Okine Yamoah, Acting Managing Director of NEDCo.According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Yamoah highlighted that the initiative has significantly reduced losses compared to the previous year. He stated, "The loss figure we have now is far lower than last year, showing the exercise is making a great impact." This initiative has put NEDCo on track to meet its target for reducing distribution losses, with a goal of 27.13% for the year. As of the end of August, the company stood at 27.98%, marking the first time in five years it is likely to achieve its loss reduction target.Mr. Yamoah made these remarks while briefing Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy in Tamale about NEDCo's operations, challenges, and ongoing measures to improve power distribution. The Committee visited NEDCo as par t of a nationwide tour of energy installations aimed at identifying sector challenges and exploring ways Parliament could provide legislative and budgetary support.The Cockcrow Operation was introduced in response to power theft, where some customers illegally connected to the grid at night and disconnected during the day to avoid detection. NEDCo deploys officers to customers' premises at dawn to inspect meters and detect illegal connections. Serving about 1.29 million customers and covering 64% of the country's landmass, NEDCo operates in regions including Northern, Upper East, Upper West, North East, Savannah, Bono East, Bono, Ahafo, and parts of Oti, Western North, and Ashanti. NEDCo's market share is 11% compared to the Electricity Company of Ghana's 87%.Tamale and its surrounding areas account for 360,000 customers, representing 26.7% of NEDCo's customer base with energy consumption of 35.15%. However, the area also records the highest energy loss of 40.84%, prompting the Cockcrow Operation. Mr. Yam oah appealed to the Committee to assist in securing loans and grants to expand NEDCo's infrastructure. NEDCo has independently funded two substations costing about $13.4 million and GH?26 million from its internally generated funds but emphasized the need for favorable financing from development partners like the African Development Bank and KfW of Germany.Mr. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, who was accompanied by 11 other Committee Members, described the power theft situation as nation-wrecking and urged citizens to desist from it, emphasizing NEDCo's reliance on revenue from bill payments. He assured NEDCo of the Committee's support, stating, "When we return to Parliament, we will look at NEDCo's books, meet with the Minister for Energy, and the Minister for Finance to see how best we can support them. Money is needed for transformers, substations, and other facilities in their operational areas." He also commended NEDCo for its contributions to power supply in northern Ghana despite limited resources.