PURC records over 1,100 consumer complaints in 2012 first half-year
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission says it has recorded over 1,100 complaints, mostly on the quality of service, from consumers of water and electricity in the first six months of this year 2012.
Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah, Director, Public Relations and External Affairs of PURC, said out of the total complaints, the Commission had been able to resolve a little over 1,000.
On the part of the ECG, the categories of complaints received included wrongful billing and disconnections, metering and general quality of service issues while complaints against the GWCL were no flow of water, pipe bursts, leakages and water quality among others.
Officials attribute the sudden increase in the trend to the awareness on the activities of the Commission, especially in the area of Complaints Handling and Resolution and the strengthening of the PURC’s monitoring role.
The PURC explained that complaints received were those which were unresolved by the Utility Service Providers.
The Commission urged all consumers of water and electricity to complain to the Commission if utility service providers were unable to resolve their complaints satisfactorily.
The PURC Act mandates it to receive and investigate complaints and settle disputes between consumers and public utilities.
Mr Stephen Adu, Executive Secretary of the PURC, said part of the Commission’s role was to safeguard the interest of consumers by ensuring that the utility providers gave good and reliable quality of service, meet their performance standards and that all consumer problems were all addressed.
Source: GNA
On Friday 24th August 2012, I returned from work to find out that the electricity meter to my home at Teshie-Nungua estates had been change and replaced with a pre-paid meter. I immediately inquired if the Electricity Company sold any extra pre-paid cards, or indicated where such cards could be purchased. My wife informed me that the those who replaced it said it would last till Monday when pre-paid cards could be purchased. To our surprise, we had black-out 24-hrs after. Between Saturday night and today Monday 27th August our lives have been seriously interrupted. Whatever materials I brought from work to continue work at home have been returned to the office. I think this is serious maltreatment of customers by EGC. Whether this inconvenience was initaited by ECG main office of its branch in Teshie-Nungua (Lekma) requires investigation and an unqualified appology to all affected. Indeed the house in front of mine and others at Fish Close have been affected. How many more houses have been affected is left to your imagination. As that 3:00 pm today (27th August 2012) we are still unable to get pre-paid cards or re-charge our cards. How long this will continue, I have no idea. Please investigate this issue and take appropriate action.
Dr. G.A. Asare