- The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) is making significant strides in increasing its electricity access and modernising its services.
- Connection targets for the initial eight months were set at 386,328, and the number of new connections reached 257,188.
The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) is making significant strides in increasing its electricity access and modernising its services. As of the 2023/2024 fiscal year, the number of EEU customers has reached 4,615,787, reflecting a net gain of 257,188 new customers connected in just eight months.
Ato Melaku Taye, Director of Corporate Communications at EEU, said that within the same eight-month period, 51 towns and villages were newly connected to the grid. Also, the ongoing efforts to connect new customers are paying off.
He highlighted that the figures likely underestimated the number of people benefiting from electricity, as multiple individuals often share a single-meter connection. While connection targets for the initial eight months were set at 386,328, the actual number of new connections reached 257,188.
Recognising the need for modernisation, EEU is implementing various initiatives to improve service delivery and reduce energy waste. Furthermore, he stated that the critical project is replacing 50,000 existing meters with smart meters in two phases.
These meters will provide more accurate data and enable better electricity grid management. Additionally, digital reading devices are being deployed to address meter reading challenges.