Ghana’s ESI has an unbundled structure, with power generation, transmission and distribution carried out by separate entities.
The market is made up of a regulated sector and a deregulated sector. An Electricity Market Oversight Panel (MOP), a stakeholders’ body, has been established to oversee and continually monitor the operation of the market.
Two state-owned distribution companies dominate the regulated market, namely the Electricity Company of Ghana (‘ECG’) and NedCo a wholly-owned subsidiary of VRA. As at the end of 2023, this market segment this market segment accounts for about 74% of Ghana’s total energy demand. The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (‘PURC’) approves consumer tariffs in the regulated market.
The deregulated sector currently accounts for about 11% of Ghana’s total energy demand. The prominent players in the deregulated market are the mining companies.
Export customers account for a further 11% of total.
GridCo the Electricity Transmission Utility (ETU), is responsible for the operation of the national transmission system including dispatch and for the transmission of electricity from the wholesale suppliers to the bulk customers (ECG and NEDCo). Losses make up the remaining 4%.