%0 Journal Article
%T Managing System Losses to Improve Energy Efficiency within the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited
%A Vincent Kwame Osei-Appiah
%A Jones Lewis Arthur
%J Smart Grid and Renewable Energy
%P 121-136
%@ 2151-4844
%D 2022
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/sgre.2022.136008
%X <span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">The inability to achieve the target of universal access to electricity is
influenced by several factors including funding limitations, the use of
obsolete equipment, power theft</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">,</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> and
system losses confronting the electricity distribution services of the
Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG). The study assessed the components
of system losses within the ECG by determining and computing the percentage of
system losses within ECG, examining the causes of both commercial and technical
losses in ECG</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">,</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> and determining ways to improve energy efficiency by reducing system
losses in the most cost-efficient manner. The study adopted deductive reasoning
and a quantitative approach to guide data collection and analysis of the
research output. A sample of 345 technical and non-technical staff of ECG in the
Greater Accra Metropolis was selected from a population of 2500. Purposive,
simple random</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">,</span><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> and cluster sampling techniques were used in identifying and accessing
respondents for the study. Descriptive statistics were applied to measure
central tendency and degrees of dispersion and the Relative Importance Index
(RII) to predict criterion and predictor variables. </span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">The impact of low voltage network losses can adversely contribute to
technical losses (20%) and reduce energy efficiency in power or electricity distribution
companies. Non-technical</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> losses are mainly caused by illegal
connections, meter problems</span></span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">,</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> and billing problems. Each of the non-technical losses contributes a
maximum of 10% to system losses. Contributors to system losses at ECG are
ranked first for power theft and least for lack of incentives. System losses at
ECG include metering inaccuracies, bad workmanship, unmetered supply</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">,</span><span style=\"font-family:&quot;\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> and
lengthy distribution lines, each recording a mean value of above 3.5. Measures
to improve monitori</span><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">ng of the networks and
systems at ECG and discourage power th</span><span
%K Network Management
%K System Losses
%K Electricity
%K Cost Efficiency
%K Energy Management
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=117785