The Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare lauded PURC for the frontal role in engaging stakeholders in a multi-year tariff review that is from 2022 to 2027 which is currently ongoing, however, urging all stakeholders to engage actively in this review process and make their voice heard in the outcome for the benefit of the generality of all stakeholders.
The Electricity Company of Ghana wants tariffs to be increased by 148% for 2022 and with 7.6% average adjustments between the periods of 2023 to 2026.
The sharp proposed increment, according to ECG, is due to the gap between the actual cost recovery tariff and PURC-approved tariffs as well as the cost of completed projects.
Similarly, the Ghana Water Company is also proposing an increment in its tariffs to be able to at least recover its.
The Chief of staff is hopeful that “all stakeholders will engage actively in this review process and make their voice heard so that the outcome will benefit the generality of all stakeholders”
She said this when commissioning an ultra-modern office building for PURC in Koforidua to serve the entire Eastern Region. The commissioning also coincided with the launch of the 25th-anniversary celebration of the commission.
The Chief of staff said the role of the commission has been necessary amid fluctuations in tariffs however it needs to enhance the already established mechanisms to make regulated utility companies financially viable taking into consideration the negative impact of COVID-19 on Ghana’s economy.
The Chief of staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare said PURC has been playing a pivotal role in balancing the expectations of stakeholders such as government, legislature, trade unions, industries, the consuming public, and the utility providers on the other hand.
She however admonished PURC to mainstream sustainable measures targeted at enhancing the quality and reliable services by utility providers and making tariffs more affordable.
The Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr. Ishmeal Ackah said the commission is investing in monitoring systems, capacity, and infrastructure to ensure efficient utility services and avert unjustified tariff increments.
He said the Commission is also making sure that consumers pay their bills on time and do not engage in illegal connections.
According to him, two regulatory audit units have been established to monitor the utility service providers to ensure they perform efficiently, adding that, the commission will soon launch the Ghana Utility performance index to compare the performance of the utility services across ten operational regions of Ghana.
Additionally, a customer service clinic will be held in September this year to facilitate the interface of consumers and service providers to have their complaints resolved.
He said PURC is scaling up its digitization drive including the use of social media to enable consumers to engage the commission swiftly with their complaints about the solution. “As I speak to you today, we have 500 WhatsApp groups for PURC alone across Ghana”.
Dr. Ackah said the commission is also mindful of the government’s commitment to the global energy transition agenda.
The board chairman of the PURC Mr. Ebo B. Quagrainie disclosed that PURC resolved 10,701 out of 10,987 utility-related complaints in 2021 representing a 97.49% resolution rate.
The complaints related to issues of billing, metering, quality of service of supply, unlawful disconnection, damaged property, and nonpayment of utility bills.
A prudent investigation by the commission also resulted in credit sales adjustment to the tune of about Ghc5,778,379.20 recovered for consumers.
He bemoaned the phenomenon of a delayed payment of utility bills by customers of the utility service providers stating that the exchange rate effect on such debts continues to create Foreign exchange losses to the service providers hence calling for prompt payment.
He said currently, PURC has offices in all ten traditional regions with an effort underway to expand to the six(6) new regions.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
