Ghana: PURC To Compensate Electricity Consumers After Investigating Erratic Power Supply

Ghana’s utilities regulator, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) says it has concluded preliminary investigations into the power outages being experienced in parts of the West African nation.

According to the Commission, it is now in the process of ascertaining the liabilities incurred by consumers caused by the power cuts and possibly compensate affected consumers for the losses.

“Following the conclusion of the preliminary investigations, the Commission, in accordance with its regulatory processes, is ascertaining the liability and possibility of compensation to consumers in recognition of any loss occasioned by the erratic power supply,” the Commission said.

Since the beginning of 2021, parts of the country have consistently witnessed power cuts.

The power transmission company has blamed the situation on a number of factors including upgrading of their transmission network.

In a statement issued and signed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Mami Dufie Ofori, it said the Commission established, through its regulatory monitoring, that the erratic power supply, coupled with low voltages especially during peak hours, was caused by a number of factors across the value chain of electricity supply.

The Commission said its investigation revealed that the blackout experienced in the country included, but are not limited to the following: technical challenges in the natural gas supply network; new transmission infrastructure being constructed on the National Interconnected ‘Transmission System (NITS), planned and unplanned maintenance activities on aspects of the NITS and reduction in reactive power support in the mid-portion of the country.

It also mentioned the emergency upgrade and modification works on the NITS to increase reactive power support and
improve voltages in the mid-portion of the country.

The Commission, in the light of these, encouraged consumers to report any case of damaged equipment to the nearest ECG/NEDCO office for the appropriate action, failing which the report would be forwarded to the PURC for redress,” the statement from the PURC added.

Source: www.energynewsafrica.com