Compensation
totaling
GH¢
552,972.69
has
been
paid
to
customers
of
utility
companies
in
the
Greater
Accra
Region
who
reported
issues
of
overbilling
and
other
complaints
within
six
months
of
this
year.
The
payments
were
made
by
the
Ghana
Water
Company
Limited
(GWCL)
and
Electricity
Company
of
Ghana
(EGC)
after
the
complaints
were
made
to
the
Accra
Regional
Office
of
Public
Utility
Regulatory
Commission
(PURC).
The
Greater
Accra
Regional
Manager
of
the
PURC,
Mrs
Gifty
Bruce-Nelson,
disclosed
this
to
the
Ghanaian
Times
in
Accra
yesterday
said
compensation
was
paid
to
customers
who
made
a
total
804complaints
within
the
period.
That,
she
said
represented
a
reduction
as
against
913
last
year
the
same
period
as
a
result
of
interventions
including
public
awareness
creation
on
the
rights
of
consumers.
She
said
one
of
the
mandates
of
the
Commission
was
to
receive
complaints
from
the
public,
investigate
and
ensure
amicable
settlement
and
payment
of
compensation.
The
Regional
Manager
stated
that
out
of
the
recorded
complaints,
695
representing
86
per
cent
were
lodged
against
ECG
while
the
remaining
109
representing
14
per
cent
were
against
the
GWCL.
Mrs
Bruce-Nelson
said
most
of
the
complaints
from
the
consumers
were
over
billing
and
that
of
the
utilities
were
consumers
not
paying
their
debt.
She
stated
out
of
the
804
complaints
they
received
718
of
the
cases
were
resolved
representing
91.7
per
cent.
Mrs
Bruce-Nelson
said
GH¢11,441,875.55
was
paid
by
customers
indebted
to
ECG.
The
Regional
Manager
stated
that
consumers
made
their
complaints
through
‘walk-ins’,
phone
calls,
field
and
written,
adding
that
the
regional
office
investigate
such
complaints
and
seek
ways
to
resolve
them.
She
stated
that
as
part
of
efforts
to
enhance
its
operations
the
GAR
of
the
Commission
had
intensified
its
community
monitoring
on
the
utilities
and
also
consumers
activities.
“These
commercial
customers
were
monitored
to
establish
service
reliability
of
power
and
water
supply
as
well
as
to
note
down
any
challenges
with
their
utility
providers,”
she
added.
Mrs
Bruce-Nelson
stated
that
the
GAR
Commission
also
ensured
the
replacement
of
fallen
electricity
poles
in
the
region.
She
assured
the
public
of
the
Commission’s
determination
to
ensure
that
the
regulated
utilities
give
quality
services
to
the
consumers.
The
Regional
Manager
urged
the
public
to
contact
the
PURC
with
their
complaints,
conserve
electricity
and
pay
their
bills
promptly.
Mrs
Bruce-Nelson
urged
the
public
to
desist
from
engaging
in
illegal
connection,
stealing
and
tampering
with
the
utilities
of
water
and
electricity
lines.
BY
ANITA
NYARKO-YIRENKYI