The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) is making significant strides in expanding electricity access and modernizing 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.

Within the same eight-month period, 51 towns and villages have been newly connected to the grid. "Our ongoing efforts to connect new customers are paying off," said Ato Melaku Taye, Director of Corporate Communications at EEU. He highlighted that the figures likely underestimated the actual 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. Recognizing the need for modernization, EEU is implementing various initiatives to improve service delivery and reduce energy waste. A key project is the replacement of 50,000 existing meters with smart meters in two phases. These meters will provide more accurate data and enable better management of the electricity grid. Additionally, digital reading devices are being deployed to address meter reading challenges.

Source: Addis Zemen