Kumasi: The Ashanti regional office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has retrieved an amount of GHS262,558.53 from the utility companies as refund to some consumers in Ashanti Region in 2024. The move was to protect the interest of consumers and ensure fair utility usage for both consumers and service providers. It was also to enable utility companies to be up to their task and deliver responsibly.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Richard Asiedu, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of PURC in Ashanti Region, told a press conference in Kumasi that, among the issues that necessitated the refund were overbilling, metering, unlawful disconnection, and destruction of home appliances due to voltage fluctuations. He said a total of GHS396,010.00 was also collected by the PURC from construction companies to the Ghana Water Company Limited, as compensation for network damages during road constructions.
Mr. Asiedu stated that the Ghana Water Company had now been able to repair most of its damaged transmission pipes caused by the construction companies. The PURC was also able to mobilize GHS178,368.42 as revenue. He mentioned that a total of 1,101 complaints were lodged against Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Water Company in Ashanti Region in 2024. Out of this, 1,050 were resolved by PURC.
Additionally, 31 faulty meters were replaced, while four new service connections and 12 transformers were replaced by the ECG, and 30 burst pipes were repaired by the Water Company. Mr. Asiedu urged utility consumers to report all their concerns on utility usage to PURC for immediate redress.
