ECG, PDS Agree On Modalities To Prevent Disruptions In Power Supply

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Power Distribution Services (PDS) have both agreed on certain modalities to ensure that there are no disruptions in power supply and service delivery in the country.

As part of the modalities, both companies have agreed to allow PDS to carry on with “all activities related to electricity retail sale.”

A statement jointly signed by the Managing Director of ECG, Ing. Samuel Boakye-Appiah and the Chief Executive Officer of PDS, Rev. Ing William Hutton-Mensah said PDS will be responsible for meter reading, billing, distribution of bills, bill reconciliation, revenue collection, and new service connections.

It added that PDS will also undertake disconnection exercises, replacement of faulty meters and networks, repair works as well as attend to complaints and fault reporting to the call centres.

“In light of the above, all payments and other related activities shall continue to take place at PDS Regional and District offices, PDS existing Customer Service Centres, PDS licensed vending stations, PDS operated Cash Points and banks,” the statement said.

The companies in the statement indicated that the arrangement “shall be in force from 8th of August, 2019 until the reversal or otherwise by the Energy Commission.”

Government announced the suspension of the concession agreement with PDS explaining that the decision followed the “detection of fundamental and material breaches of PDS’s obligation in the provision of Payment Securities (Demand Guarantees) for the transaction which was discovered upon further due diligence”.

“The demand guarantees were key prerequisites for the lease of assets on March 1, 2019, to secure the assets that were transferred to the concessionaire,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Information said.