The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), has fined the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for making scores of customers pay more for power due to faulty meters.
In December 2015, PURC announced an increase in utility tariffs, with a 59.2 percent increase for electricity and 67.2 percent for water. But some Ghanaians have since complained about paying much higher tariffs especially for electricity.
Some even besieged selected ECG offices across the country to register their displeasure over the development. Speaking to journalists in Accra, the PURC’s Director of Public Affairs and External Relations, Nana Yaa Jantuah, said the fine slapped on the ECG will compel it to address these challenges.
“The law says that they should be punished if they refuse to change these meters. There are some meters which are failing and it is even different from the software issue. For instance you will be there and they will come and slap you with some ridiculous amount and if you are unable to pay within a certain number of days they say they have blocked you. That one is not a software thing, it means there is a failure and the meter might not even be prompting you” We won’t ‘steal’ your credits again The ECG early this year said it is was taking measures to ensure that these wrongful deductions are curtailed.
The Public Relations Officer of ECG, William Boateng, said the company is working around the clock to ensure the problem is not repeated. “We appreciate what is happening and we will continue to work to ensure the problems do not occur again. We have advised our regulators to be considerate and help us have tackle the challenges,” William Boateng said.
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