NEDCo urges consumers to pay electricity bills as revenue mobilisation exercise begins

By – Prosper Adaakai

The Northern Electricity Distribution Company, NEDCo, is urging electricity consumers in the Upper East Region to pay their bills promptly to enable the company generate the revenue needed to maintain its infrastructure and improve service delivery.

According to NEDCo, some customers owe the company electricity bills for as long as eight months, affecting its ability to efficiently operate and maintain its distribution network

Speaking on the Sunrise Morning Show on GBC URA Radio in Bolgatanga, Customer Relations Assistant at VRA/NEDCo, Adams Ahmed, said the company has commenced a two-week revenue mobilisation exercise across the Upper East Region. He warned that customers who fail to settle their bills after the prescribed grace period following the issuance of a postpaid meter bill risk having their electricity supply disconnected

Mr. Ahmed said disconnected residential customers would be required to pay a 50-cedi reconnection fee, while commercial customers would pay 100 cedis

The revenue mobilisation exercise, however, has encountered resistance in the Talensi area, where residents have raised concerns about persistent power outages. On August 24, 2026, angry residents and youth in Talensi reportedly resisted a NEDCo disconnection exercise targeting customers with outstanding electricity bills and subsequently went to the Talensi District Assembly to register their grievances

Residents of Tongo and surrounding communities have complained about frequent and prolonged power outages, particularly during rainfall, with some outages reportedly lasting more than 24 hours. Business operators, including cold-store owners and barbers, have also complained of losses resulting from spoiled goods and damage to electrical appliances allegedly caused by outages and power fluctuations

The residents have questioned NEDCo’s revenue mobilisation efforts, arguing that the demand for payment should be matched by reliable electricity supply

The Talensi District Chief Executive, Millim Nabwomya indicated that the local authorities are working with NEDCo’s technical teams to replace faulty components on the Tongo electricity line in an effort to address the persistent outages

Mr. Ahmed said the situation in the area has since been brought under control and electricity supply restored. Meanwhile, VRA/NEDCo is implementing an electronic billing system intended to make bill management more convenient for customers and improve customer satisfaction

Mr. Ahmed also dismissed claims that consumers who purchase electricity credit on the first day of the month receive an advantage over those who purchase at other times

He explained that the duration of electricity credit depends largely on the customer’s level of consumption and the number of electrical appliances being used

He further urged customers to adjust their top-up amounts in line with the new electricity tariffs approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, PURC, if they want to receive the equivalent value of credit they previously obtained