The Special Task force set up by the Power Ministry to audit the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) meters over concerns of over-billing has begun work in the Legon District of Accra.
The taskforce, made up of officials of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the Energy Commission (EC), the Ministry of Power and ECG, are to run tests on meters.
[contextly_sidebar id=”LPE9fOkL8DKtDiSIyPo66SH6d9EkKMg8″]The legon district of the ECG covers areas such as IPS, American House and School junction.
Their work so far reveals that most houses in that enclave improperly wired.
The Task force is expected to conduct its duties across the country.
Cabinet approves taskforce
Cabinet has also approved the taskforce put together to resolve complaints from the public regarding the bills and charges being received from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in respect of consumption of power.
President Mahama on his Facebook wall said “I share the frustration of Ghanaians affected by this anomalous situation and will do everything possible to find a speedy and sustainable solution to this issue.”
He said “following our very detailed and exhaustive discussions in Cabinet this morning, we approved the steps taken by the Ministry of Power, and expect the Taskforce, which comprises the Energy Commission, the ECG, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and other stakeholders to submit its report and solution on June 03, 2016 for immediate implementation.”
“The present situation has to end, and I assure my fellow Ghanaians that this too, like other challenges we have faced together, will be fixed,” he added.
Tariff increases
The PURC late last year sanctioned an increase of 59.2 percent and 67.2 percent for electricity and water tariffs respectively.
But businesses and individuals expressed displeasure with the increase which they described as astronomical.
Suspend ‘problematic’ billing software
Meanwhile, the PURC on Tuesday instructed the ECG, to suspend the implementation of their new billing software until further notice.
A statement signed by the PURC’s Public Relations Director, Nana Yaa Jantuah, said the directive was necessitated by incessant complaints from customers who alleged that they were being over-billed by the ECG.
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By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana