The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has stated that over-billing in Ketu South is due to expired meters and recent tariff increases. This clarification comes after residents of Ketu South Municipality in the Volta Region protested against what they described as unacceptable billing practices by ECG.
These practices, they claim, have caused significant psychological distress and financial burdens. Already, there are widespread allegations of over-billing made by some customers of ECG in some other parts of the country. Touching on this when the Electricity Company of Ghana appeared before the Public Accounts Committee on Monday, the Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Abla Dzifa Gomashie said something must be done. “On Wednesday, my constituents were on the street demonstrating in Ketu South because of the hikes in cost of electricity now.
I think the installation of the new system that you are using must have a problem because a small house with a fan and a television and phone can get a bill of 1000gh or almost 2000gh. Those things are happening,” she stressed. But responding to the concerns, Managing Director of the ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama said the problem could be as a result of expired meters.
“What we are realizing now is that most people don’t know that meters do expire. Meters don’t have a long life span, so they do expire. This is something that is not the fault of the customer. “So this is something that we have to go out there and educate everybody very well,” he explained. Mr Mahama added, “let’s also not forget that the PURC has increased tariff over the period to a total of almost 75%, so it is a conversation that has to be looked at in a holistic form”.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
