PURC Warns Utility Service Providers

The Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Mrs. Mami Dufie Ofori, has cautioned that the Commission will strictly enforce its laws should the utility service providers refuse to adhere to laid-down guidelines in the discharge of their duties.

“Read about our regulations so that when we're enforcing them, you do not say that you didn't know. See us as partners and not as adversaries because we are all here to serve the nation”, she stated.

She made this statement when she had a meeting with some staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in Takoradi.

She charged the utility service providers to be innovative in their revenue collection to help maximize revenue.

She indicated: “The Commission will support any initiative that would ease the burden of customers when they needed service.” She reiterated that the Commission would protect the interests of all stakeholders at all times.

She charged utility service providers to be innovative in their revenue collection to reduce their financial liabilities, adding “technology is changing so focus on technological ideas that would improve quality service provision and would satisfy the customer. You must think business, be competitive and adopt innovative means of running the business”.

She urged the utilities to be sensitive to the plights of customers when dealing with them adding that the utilities should always consider the rights of customers when they encounter them.

She said this when she met the Western Regional Management Team of ECG and GWCL in Takoradi on Friday.

The ECG Regional Commercial Manager, Mr. Alex Anwobor, bemoaned the fact that some customers had been attacking their staff when they went for revenue mobilization.

He added that the company had intensified its communication with customers and other stakeholders to resolve the challenge.

On his part, Mark Tieko Cudjoe, GWCL Regional Chief Manager, stated that the company had increased its revenue in-flows from around GH¢1.5 million to around GH¢3million notwithstanding the challenges with raw water.

“However, we have seen a substantial improvement in the quality of raw water at Daboase and Bosomase intake points; thanks to the activities of Operation Vanguard – the anti-illegal mining taskforce”, he added.