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| Consumers can now take action against ECG |
5/14/2011 |
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Electricity consumers across the country can now take action against the Electricity Corporation of Ghana and its affiliate institutions for erratic power supply.
This follows a new policy by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the Energy Commission which seeks to regulate the number of hours electricity providers can interrupt power supply in a year.
Under the regulations, the number of hours of power interruption will vary according to one’s geographical location.
According to a Press Release from the PURC, in Metropolitan and Industrial estates, the total outage duration per customer in a year should not exceed forty-eight hours.
It states further that power outages in district capitals should not exceed 72 hours. In rural areas it should not exceed 144 hours.
The duration of a single continuous outage whether planned or unplanned should not exceed 8 hrs in a Municipal, Metropolitan area or an industrial estate.
Power outage should also not exceed 12hrs consistently in a district capital and 24hrs in a rural area, the statement noted.
The regulations, if adhered to, would go a long way to solve the many nightmares, destruction of electrical appliances which electricity consumers have had to endure.
Director of Public Relations at the PURC, Nana Yaa Gyantua admonished users of electricity to take judicious notice of electricity outages in homes and work places and make a formal report to the PURC.
“From now on they should record their outage hours and we will apply the necessary sanctions,” she told Joy News’ Sammy Darko in an interview.
She further stated the electricity providers will pay some money in terms of penalty units.
The PURC said it will monitor the successful implementation of the policy.
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