Electricity; public utilities regulatory commission calls to stop smart prepaid metres installation

Electricity; public utilities regulatory commission calls to stop smart prepaid metres installation

Consumers of Electricity has urged the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to intervened in the installations of the new smart prepaid metres to eased them from the economic hardship

A consumer, Mr. Abdul Rahaman Issah revealed that the smart prepaid metres has added more burden to residents in this challenging economic times, “GHC 50 power purchased could last me up to a month but since the installation of the smart prepaid metres I have to spend up to GHC 250 for just a month this shows that electricity is now expensive.”

He added that the metres are subjected to some deductions as service charges of GHC 20 and as high as GHC 35 monthly this deductions has not been explained to consumers to know what type of service charges they are paying for.

Also, Mr. Sulemana Issahaku said that the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) knows that the consumers would reject the metres and that has brought the military to accompany them during the installation.

Considering the current economic hardship, the amount consumers spend on only electricity is too expensive, he noted.

“We can not live without electricity in this hot season I am pleading to the PURC to intervene and stop NEDCo from installing the metres and change we those who are already using it.”

This information was said at a Consumer Service Clinic organised by the PURC to interact with consumers and utility providers in Tamale on March 16, 2023.

The clinic provided a platform for consumers to air their complaints to utility providers for resolution to improve transparency between them.

It brought together about 200 participants from a cross section of the public from all over the region.

The Complaints Officer, Abdul Wadud Ali stated that Northern Region has re-solved 1,397 cases representing 85.92 per cent of 1, 626 total complaints received in 2022 with unresolved cases of 229 representing 14.27 per cent.

The complaints cases were 1,174 cases with Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) with resolved cases of 984 representing 83.82 per cent, 131 issues relating to Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) with resolved cases of 101 representing 77.10 per cent and 321 related to consumers with resolved cases of 312 representing 97. 20 per cent, he said.

Mr. Ali said that the PURC was also able to get about GH¢ 266, 302.72 adjustments in payment for consumers, retrieved GH¢ 16,253.17 to NEDCo and GH¢ 3, 140.91 to GWCL.

The PURC promised to continue work to make sure that customers are satisfied while ensuring that utility providers also had a good cordial relationship with customers, Mr. Ali added.

The Executive Secretary of PURC Dr Ishmael Ackah, has realised that consumers complaints often centered on low quality of service from utility providers and this has brought the consumer service clinic.

In an interview with Daily Graphic, he revealed that GHC 15 million lost through illegal connections and they were able to retrieved GHC 3 million in 2022.

He said that the PURC would embark on “operation rescue” to educate consumers on their responsibilities to reduce illegal connections.

The Regional Chief Manager of NEDCo, John Eric Kwofie, said the complaints raised here would be looked at the appropriate time to build trust with consumers and urged consumers to be truthful when dealing with the company.

The company is working hard to make sure that all complaints at the NEDCo office would be solved dilligently, and would improve it infrastructure to ensure enough in it service, he added.

He urged the consumers to desist from illegal connections to increase the nation’s revenue.

The Communication Director of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Nii Abbey, said that the illegal connections on both NEDCo and GWCL has increased the cost of consumption.

He promised to take the complaints to the top hierarchy for resolution and urged consumers to stay way from illegal connections, it would not support in developing the nation.