By: Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter, Daily Scope
The Sierra Leone government, led by Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security (PI-CREF), is set to implement tamper-proof smart electricity meters across the nation. This initiative aims to enhance energy management and combat widespread electricity theft.
A recent assessment by the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) in Freetown revealed that approximately 80% of existing meters have been tampered with or illegally connected, leading to significant revenue losses.
Dr. Yumkella announced the arrival of the first batch of these advanced meters in Freetown, with plans to install 350,000 units to overhaul the city’s energy infrastructure. Moyamba has been designated as the pilot region to test the effectiveness of the new devices prior to broader implementation in Freetown later this year. The new meters will provide immediate alerts upon any tampering attempts, ensuring better monitoring and security.
In a related effort to bolster revenue collection and monitor energy consumption, the Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with EDSA, has initiated routine inspections of meter installations for Tariff 4 (T4) customers, defined as those with installed loads exceeding 15KW. These inspections will focus on Maximum Demand Indicators (MDIs) to ensure accurate energy consumption registration and identify potential unauthorized usage.
The initiative aims to engage directly with high-demand customers, assess their benefits from EDSA services, and verify that their energy consumption aligns with their installed capacity. Future plans include extending these inspections to other customer categories.
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