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The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) penalized board members of the Electricity Company of Ghana who were in office from January 1, 2024, to March 18, 2024, and they have until May 30, 2024, to pay GHS5,868,000.00 for their non-compliance.
After conducting an inquiry, PURC found that ECG had violated L.I. 2413, which mandates that the public be notified three days in advance of any scheduled interruption in power supply. As a result, PURC issued a regulatory charge on ECG.
“Analysis showed that of the 165 ECG planned outages, 40 were supported by public notices, while there were no notices for the remaining 125 outages. Further, 38 of the 40 notices did not comply with the requisite three-day statutory notice prescribed under Regulation 39 of L.I. 2413. This indicates that in 163 instances of planned outages, ECG did not comply with the law,” PURC concluded after its analysis.
PURC subsequently imposed a charge of 3,000 penalty units for each of the 163 breaches
“For failure to comply with 39 of L.I. 2413, the 3-day statutory notice required under Regulation the Commission in accordance with Regulation 45 of L.I. 2413, hereby imposes a regulatory charge of 3,000 penalty units on ECG for each of the 163 breaches, amounting to Five Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 5,868,000.00),” the commission determined.
The Commission also concluded that it would be counterproductive to consider paying any of ECG’s revenue, and that board members, who should be responsible for ensuring ECG’s efficiency and regulatory compliance, would be held accountable for the expense.
“The Commission has determined that having regard to the nature of ECG’s ownership and business, the imposition of the penalty of Five Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 5,868,000.00) on ECG would be counter-productive, as payment from ECG’s revenue would have a rebounding adverse effect on quality of service and consumers who pay tariffs to the company,” it explained
“For that reason, in the interest of justice and to protect the interests of consumers, the Commission shall hold the Board Members of ECG who were in office between 1 January to 18 March 2024 liable for the payment of the Five Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 5,868,000.00). These Board Members were at all material times responsible for providing strategic direction to ensure the provision of safe, adequate, efficient, reasonable and non-discriminatory service to consumers,” it added.
Read the full statement below:
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
