Consumers of electricity and water from the Northern and Upper East regions have expressed varied opinions on the proposed increases in tariff by the four utility service providers operating in the two regions.
Varied views
While some kicked against the proposed increment, others were for it if only it would translate into quality services for consumers and reduce or completely eradicate the current load shedding, popularly referred to as Dumsor.
Those against the increment noted that the utility service providers would always come with the argument on the need for an increment in their tariffs for improved services but after getting the approval, their services remain the same or become worse.
Others noted that the proposed increment in tariffs were reasonable but it must correspond with service delivery while others called on the utility companies to go for the money owed them by some public institutions and the government before asking for any increment in tariffs.
Some residents of the Tamale Metropolis called on the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to improve their services by ensuring a 24-hour service instead of the current rationing in some parts of the metropolis, while others called on the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDco) to address the low voltage situation experienced in the metropolis.
Some of the participants also described the forum as a “window dressing as their views would not make any impact on the proposed tariff increment.
“They will always come for our views anytime there is a major tariff adjustment proposal but do not factor in our views or consider them,” they stated.
These opinions were expressed at a public hearing organised by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) in Tamale on Saturday for consumers of electricity and water in the Northern and Upper East regions to solicit the views and support for the proposed tariff increment by four utility service providers.
The four utility providers are the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), the NEDco and the GWCL.
The VRA is demanding an increment from 15 pesewas (p) per unit to 30p while GRIDCo has proposed an increase from 4p to 5p. NEDCO is asking for an increment from 16p to 43p Kilowatts per hour ( KWh) and the GWCL wants an increment from GH¢1.70 to GH¢4 for one cubic metre (1,000 litres of water).
In a presentation on the proposed tariff increment, the Director of Operations, NEDco, Mr Noble Dormenu, said consumers stood to benefit from the investments that would be made by NEDco if they accepted the proposal.
He said the investments would improve the network protection system, reduce outages, improve safety, allow the connection of additional customers to the national grid, increase the reliability of power supply to customers and improve ICT infrastructure for quick service delivery.
PURC
Earlier in a welcome address, the Executive Secretary of PURC, Mr Samuel Sarpong, spoke about the mandate of the commission and said the commission received proposals from the utility service providers every two years and had to seek the views of the public before accepting it.
The Dakpema, Naa Alhassan Dawuni, chaired the function. He called on NEDco to ensure that they would go by the current load shedding management timetable for Tamale and also find innovative ways to collect the money owed them from customers instead of resorting to outright disconnection.
Source: Graphic