The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has embarked on an ambitious project to modernize its downstream assets and customer information under the Customer and Assets Information Management System (CAIMS) initiative. Launched two years ago, CAIMS aims to digitize and sanitize ECG’s assets databases and fully enumerate its customers.

Progress So Far

The project has made significant headway, with approximately 3.3 million unique ECG assets tagged nationwide. These assets, including distribution transformers, low voltage poles, building structures, and meters, are now identifiable with unique QR code tags. The attributes of each tagged asset and customer information are uploaded onto the CAIMS application, available for official use.

Benefits of a Digitized Assets Register

According to Charles Obeng, CAIMS Project Manager and Director of Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, an updated assets database empowers ECG to:

1. Accurately pinpoint the GPS location of all assets
2. Improve energy accounting
3. Enhance targeted revenue mobilization exercises

Current Completion Rate and Future Plans

With a current completion rate of 22.8% across ECG’s operational districts, Obeng is optimistic that the project will gain momentum as the team expands to other areas soon. The project implementation is in collaboration with the military, with personnel from the engineering regiment deployed alongside ECG field staff to expedite asset tagging activities.

Impact on Customers and Operations

Emmanuel Ankrah, Acting General Manager for ECG Accra West Region, is enthusiastic about the revolutionary impact of the digitized database. He encourages customers to collaborate with the field team, who have been trained to properly identify themselves during visits. Ankrah advises customers to verify the identity of field officers from the nearest ECG office if they encounter suspicious individuals claiming to work for ECG.

Region-Specific Progress

The Accra West Region, comprising eight operational districts (Ablekuma, Achimota, Amasaman, Bortianor, Dansoman, Kaneshie, Korlebu, and Nsawam), is making steady progress in the CAIMS project implementation.