By: Kingsley Attitsogbui| Techiman
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has opened an office in Techiman, the capital of the Bono East Region.
The move is to ensure high-quality service delivery and protect the interests of stakeholders within the region.
The office, which is the first to be opened by the Commission after the creation of the six new regions, has been in operation since March 1, 2024, and becomes the eleventh (11) regional office of the commission as part of efforts to decentralise operations.
Records indicated that, the two-month-old office has already carried out several activities, including complaint management, public education, and visits to announce its presence, create awareness, and increase visibility.
They also undertook street walks, leaflet distribution, education for associations and groups, and mass media education programs prior to the opening ceremony.
Currently, a total of one hundred and twelve (112) complaints ranging from overbilling, delayed service connections, power outages, no flow of water, coloured water, rotten poles, faulty meters, illegal connections, and non-payment of bills, among others, against respondents have been received across the region within this short period.
Out of the total number of complaints, one hundred and three (103) have been satisfactorily resolved, with nine (9) pending.
Also, an amount of GHC2,710.00 has been paid as an adjustment in favour of two customers through the efforts of the office.
Officials noted that, the office is also facilitating the recovery of a whooping GHC2,954,040.00 owed the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) Techiman Area Office by some of its customers in the region.
Director of Regional Operations and Consumer Services (ROCS) of the PURC, Alhaji Jabaru Abukari, underscored the need to bring utility regulation to the doorsteps of consumers, asserting that, this will always ensure high-quality service delivery.
During his two-day working visit to the region, the Director also held meetings and engagements with the utility service providers, thus the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and Ghana Water Limited (GWL), and officially informed them about the existence of the office in the region and asked for their cooperation with the Commission in serving the good people of the Bono East Region.
Speaking on Techiman-based Bonokyempem Radio as part of his visit, he called on the public to ensure harmonious working relationships with the regional office, urging them to always seek clarifications on utility issues.
He also charged consumers to always report any difficulties and challenges they face in their quest to have safe, adequate, reliable, reasonable, and non-discriminatory supply to the regulator after unsatisfactory resolutions from the utility service providers.
BACKGROUND
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) was established in October 1997 under the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act, 1997 (Act 538) as a multi-sector regulator to regulate the provision of electricity and water utility services. The establishment of the Commission was part of the government of Ghana’s utility sector reform process. By virtue of the Energy Commission Act, 1997 (Act 541), PURC also regulates the transportation of natural gas services. Under Section 4 of Act 538, PURC is an independent body and is not subject to the control of any authority in the performance of its functions.