ECG Held Public Forum In Kumasi

The electricity company of Ghana Ashanti chapter has held a forum to educates the public on the electricity tariffs.

The forum involed heads of both private and public departments in the region, as well as other major stakeholder's.

This, was aimed at addressing challenges facing the approved new tariffs on the electricity bills arisen in the sector. This include tariffs on residential customers, non-residential, service charge, levies on Value added tax among others.

Ghanaian's of late are been complaining bitterly about the current price increase in the electricity bills.

Adressing the forum the Ashanti regional public relation officer of the ECG Mr. Erasmus Baidoo hinted the approved tariff by the PURC was an increase of 59.2 percent.

He explain that, "the tariffs for those who consume 0.50% units per month wad increased from 21p to 34p, tariffs for 51-300 units was increased from 42p to 67p.

"Tariffs for 301-600 units increased from 55p to 87p and those above 601+ units increased from 61p to 97p". He added.

As why electricity credits run out fast he said was because ECG billing system is a monthly cylincal system. This he noted the meters deducted credit to cover a month billing cycle, starting December 01, 2015 instead of December 14, 2015 when new meters tariffs took effect.

According to him, about 500,000 customers are on prepaid meters. 300,000 of these were affected and 280,000 reimbursed.

He said ECG has taken steps to prevent this from happening again, adding that "customers who were over charged because of the billing cycle will receico a refund at their next venture".

He attributed the high cost tariffs that, "the actual cost of the units of power consumed, include 5% levy on energy for street lights, 5% for national electrification and monthly service charge for the company".

On his part, the Ashanti regional minister Hon. Alexander Eckon urged customers to use their appliance wisely to reduce cost incurs.

He advised public servants and government official living in state houses to utilized their uses of utilities reduces power consumption in the country.