PURC sanctioning ECG over faulty meters unlikely – Kofi Capito

Consumer Rights Advocate, Kofi Capito says it is unlikely the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) will sanction the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) over failure to change faulty meters.

He said: "The only time I have seen the utility [PURC] sanction is when tariffs were refused" because service provided to consumers was not of standard.

Officials of PURC indicated they intend to sanction ECG after complaints of failure to replace faulty meters for consumers came to their notice.

Speaking to Joy News’ Evans Mensah, Director of Public affairs at PURC, Nana Yaa Jantuah said ECG’s failure to change the meters amounts to a breach of the Legislative Instrument (L.I) 934 which directs the company to change those meters.

Sharing some of the complaints, Nana Yaa said many of the consumers talk about faulty meters, whilst others say their meters do not read.

She stressed the Commission will go into the matter and sanction the company at the appropriate time.

But, speaking on the Joy FM’s Top Story, Mr. Capito said there is a difference between “intention” and “sanctioning”.

According to him, complaints about faulty meters have gone on for more than four months and the Commission has failed to act on them.

Suggesting a form of punishment, Mr. Capito said PURC will have to direct ECG to pay back the money lost by consumers with an interest adding this is what is done in some countries.

On his part, Member of Parliament (MP) for Abokobi-Madina Constituency, Alhaji Ahmadu Sorogo expressed worry about the situation adding “We cannot wait for ECG from time-to-time”.

He said officials of ECG are supposed to inform the PURC and the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy if they believe the company is facing some technical challenges.

The MP who also doubles as the Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee charged ECG to expedite action to resolve the challenges faced by consumers.

“I don’t know what is going on [but] I am going to call Mr. Dwamena [Managing Director of ECG] immediately”, he said.

He indicated the Committee will invite ECG officials for briefing adding if the company fail to address the problem after some reasonable period of time, the “Committee is going to crack the whip”.

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Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | Email: [email protected]