Ghana: ECG In Hot Water As PURC Gives 7 Days Order To Provide Detailed Incident Report On Power Outages, Other Matters

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the regulator of water and electricity utilities in Ghana, has ordered the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to furnish it with a detailed incident report on power outages for the period – 1st January 2024 to date – by 27th March 2024.

Besides, the regulator is asking the power distribution company to provide details on the volume of load curtailed for each power outage incident, energy not served and the number of customers affected.

Additionally, the PURC is demanding ECG’s publications informing the general public about power outages from 1st January 2024 to date.

The PURC wants the power distribution company to submit copies of all government directives for the purchase of fuel for power generation from August 2023 to date, the total amount of fuel ECG procured for power generation from August 2023 to date, together with fuel supply contracts, invoices, details of fuel quantities, cost, dates and volumes delivered and all pertinent details, details of all bank accounts and investment account currently operated by ECG, and monthly bank and investment statements corresponding to each account, showing balances from August 2023 to date.

The orders were contained in a statement issued by the Commission on Tuesday, 19th March 2024.

The orders were given based on section (24) (3) of PURC Act, 1997 (Act 538), which states that where required by the Commission on reasonable notice, a public utility shall deliver to the Commission the contracts, reports of engineers, documents, books, accounts and any other records in the possession or control of the public utility and relating to its property or service or affecting its business, or copies verified in the manner specified by the Commission.

The Commission cautioned ECG that failure to comply with orders would attract imposition of sanctions on the power distribution company.

Ghanaians have bemoaned recent power outages, especially ECG’s operational areas.

A section of Ghanaians have appealed to ECG to provide load-shedding management timetable to guide them to plan, but that is yet to be done.

ECG is yet to react to the Commission’s regulatory order.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com