PURC fines ECG GH¢ 202,640 “for breaching statutory obligations”

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has slapped the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with a fine of GH¢ 202,640 for breaching its statutory obligations to customers.

The PURC has therefore asked the ECG to pay the amount by the end of working hours on Friday, September 16, 2016.

Failure to comply with the order shall attract an additional fine of GH¢10,000.00 for each day that the ECG fails to comply with the order.

A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and External Affairs, Nana Yaa Jantuah, said the sanction is as a result of the strike action embarked on by staff of the ECG in the first week of September 2016.

The statement said the penalty also covers the ECG’s refusal to provide contingency measures to ensure customers of pre-payment metering could proceed to buy credits during the industrial stike.

It will be recalled that the ECG workers on Friday, September 2 and Monday, September 5, closed their doors to customers to compel government to rescind its decision to privatise the company; thus denying customers services rendered by the company at the various offices.

The statement added that the PURC as the regulator of water and electricity services would protect the interest of the consumer and ensure the financial viability of the utility service provider.