An Exploratory Study of Effects of Prepaid Metering and Energy Related Behaviour among Ghanaian Household

Abstract

The focus of the study is to examine the effect of a new billing and payment system (prepaid meters) by Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on the efficiency of revenue mobilization, its impacts on expenditure of several households groups and the behaviour of the consumers. Based on a survey of 384 households from the Ho municipality in the Volta Region of Ghana, our empirical analysis suggest the utility provider experiences a significant increase in its revenue after the introduction of prepaid metering system. However, the study did not find any difference in the expenditure between single and compound households. Furthermore, there was a strong shift by consumers towards energy conserving attitude and behaviour.