The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) in the Bono East Region has raised alarm over the increasing use of unapproved electricity meters, a practice it says is undermining the operations of utility providers—particularly the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
According to Regional Manager Cassiel Eghan Asiedu, the local market has been flooded with substandard and unauthorized meters not supplied by either NEDCo or the Ministry of Energy. He cautioned the public against purchasing meters from private individuals, describing such sales as illegal and harmful to national utility revenues.
“We have become aware of individuals illegally selling unapproved meters to unsuspecting residents. This is significantly affecting NEDCo’s revenue,” Mr. Asiedu stated.
He advised prospective customers to engage directly with utility providers for new connections and refrain from third-party purchases.
Customer Complaints and Credit Recovery
During the PURC’s mid-year review, Mr. Asiedu disclosed that the Commission facilitated credit adjustments totaling GHC79,253.91 in favour of customers who reported overbilling or anomalies. Meanwhile, NEDCo recovered GHC21,991.47 from consumers with outstanding bills—both figures covering activities from the first half of the year.
The Commission received 826 complaints in total, of which 791 were successfully resolved, indicating a resolution rate of 95.76%.
Poor Service Quality Tops Consumer Complaints
Mr. Asiedu highlighted that 91.64% of all consumer complaints in the region related to service quality, reaffirming it as the most pressing concern among electricity users.
In response, the PURC has stepped up public education efforts, reaching over 32,000 customers with campaigns aimed at informing residents about their rights and how to lodge complaints through official channels.
Enforcement and Future Commitments
Looking ahead, the PURC says it will deepen its impact by maintaining transparent stakeholder engagement, enforcing quality standards, and protecting both consumers and service providers.
Mr. Asiedu called for collective action to clamp down on illegal meters, urging residents and stakeholders to help preserve the integrity of Ghana’s electricity distribution system.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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