CONSUMERS PERCEPTION OF PREPAID METER SYSTEM IN THE KOFORIDUA MUNICIPALITY

ABSTRACT The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the perception of the consumers of electricity regarding the use of prepaid meter system in the Koforidua Municipality. This study employed quantitative and descriptive research design to collect and analyze data. The population for this study was individuals who consume electricity in the Koforidua Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The population for the study was two thousand six hundred (2600). The random (probability) sampling technique was used to sample three hundred and thirty five electricity consumers within the study area. The main instrument used for the study were structured questionnaires. The study findings concluded that most of the respondents preferred the prepayment metering system but they still used the old metering system due to the disadvantages involved in the use of the prepayment metering system. The respondents had a fair and poor opinion regarding the prepayment system. The ECG did not do enough to educate consumers on the implementation of the prepayment metering system. This has generated some misconception in the minds of the consumers and has affected the adoption of the new metering system. The study recommended that the Management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Volta River Authority (VRA) should organise periodic education programmes through the media platforms like the Television and Radio stations to inform and educate the electricity consumers regarding the benefits of the prepayment meter system in order to enhance its implementation in the Koforidua Municipality.