The Bono Regional Office of the PURC hosted a stakeholders’ forum in collaboration with VRA/NEDCo to address challenges with the SHEP projects in beneficiary communities. The forum was aimed at discussing and identifying measures to address issues such as non-payment of bills, rotten electricity poles, sale of meters, and illegal connections among others.
The Bono Regional Minister, Madam. Justice Awo Banahene, commended the PURC for organizing as it has provided a platform to help in finding solutions to challenges facing consumers. She tasked consumers to pay commensurate tariffs to avoid problems and also enable the utility providers to replace obsolete equipment and further expand electrification to other communities that lack power. Madam Banahene also advised against the misuse of power at homes and places of work where appliances are left on when not in use.
The Bono Regional Manager of PURC, Mr. Patrick Nana Osei Antwi, stated that the regional office has received more than 5,000 complaints from consumers since its establishment. The complaints received included frequent power outages, no receipt of bills, sale of meters, and illegal connection among others. He added that about 90% of these complaints have been resolved. However, Mr. Antwi indicated that majority of the complaints received were from SHEP communities. Thus, the need to engage stakeholders on how best to resolve these issues.
Mr. Eugene Odoi Addo, Sunyani Area Manager of NEDCo, urged customers in the northern zone of the country who acquired electricity meters through unauthorised means to report to NEDCo offices for rationalization and billing.
Mr. Addo explained that there were households with installed electricity meters that were not supplied by ECG or NEDCo. These households do not receive bills because they are not known to the company. He added that those meters are either stolen or distributed to communities from the Ministry of Energy through influential political leaders under the SHEP programme. He explained that NEDCo is embarking on an exercise to visit the homes of customers to regularize the meters in order to serve them bills. Also, a grace period will be given for the customers to report their meters to NEDCo for regularization. Failure to do so within the period would lead to the prosecution of defaulting customers in court.
Mr. Fred Adjei Brobbey of the Energy Commission entreated customers, especially homeowners, to work with certified electricians who are licensed by the commission to work on their wiring and electrical installations. He stated that this is a measure to safeguard homes and properties against fire outbreaks and prevent the use of substandard materials by non-qualified electricians and contractors.
The engagement brought together stakeholders including utility providers such as NEDCo, ECG, VRA, Energy Commission, contractors, consultants, MMDCEs, Chiefs, assemblymen, and consumers, to discuss better ways to continue the implementation of the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP).
