The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has described the level of illegal electricity connections in the Northern Region as alarmingly high, warning that the situation demands urgent intervention.

Currently, over 50% of electricity distribution losses within the NEDCo operational area are attributed to the Northern Region, primarily due to widespread power theft and unpaid bills. The Minister says this is severely crippling NEDCo’s operations.

Illegal connections, system overloads, and non-payment of bills are bleeding the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), compounding its financial woes.

During a working visit to Tamale, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, expressed deep concern over the region’s contribution to NEDCo’s losses.

He revealed that while the Northern Region accounts for over 50% of NEDCo’s total losses, a staggering 70% of that figure comes from Tamale alone, largely due to illegal consumption practices. These, he explained, contribute significantly to Aggregate Technical and Commercial (ATC) losses.

“One of the major problems we are facing in the NEDCo area has to do with the Northern Sector. Indeed, when you look at the losses, over 50% of the losses alone are attributable to the Tamale enclave within the Tamale area. Within the Northern Sector, over 70% comes from Tamale, so it means that we are having huge losses,” he stated.

The Minister urged residents to support NEDCo’s field operations and to take responsibility by paying their electricity bills regularly. He emphasised that improving cooperation between customers and the utility provider is critical to sustaining power delivery in the region.

As part of proposed solutions, he called for improved customer service and recommended the introduction of a flexible payment plan for individuals caught engaging in illegal connections, to help them regularise their consumption without undue financial strain.

His comments come on the heels of an appeal by the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, who has called for the temporary suspension of NEDCo’s ongoing revenue mobilisation exercise, which began on April 7.

The Regional Minister cited the financial pressures following the Ramadan fasting and Eid celebrations, urging for a grace period to allow indebted customers to settle their arrears without facing immediate disconnection.

“We will use this period, between now and the end of this month, I will personally take an interest in it for the first time to support NEDCo to be able to move from place to place to ensure that they have the needed revenue,” he said.