Electricity Company Holds Forum On Power Cuts

Uses of electricity in parts of Accra will have to forgo power for some periods of the day and the week as the Electricity Company of Ghana embarks on a local shedding programme to reduce the pressure on its supply system. This came to light at a forum the company held in Accra on November to inform the public about its load-shedding programme. The Commercial Manager of the company in charge of the Greater Accra Region, Mr.. Arthur Forson said the load-shedding a power rationing has become necessary in view of the low level of water at the Akosombo Dam. According to GRI correspondent, James Amoak, the current water level has been fluctuating between 73.58m. the maximum or optimal operating level is about 84.73m while the minimum operating level is 73.15m. With the poor rainfall recorded this year at the catchment area of the Volta Lake in the Northern part of Ghana, there are fears that the water level might hit an all time low by the middle of next year. A similar situation in 1983 led to power rationing in Accra and other urban areas in Ghana. This affected the operations of most industrial and commercial establishments that use a lot of power in their operations. some industries which were hard hit by the irritating power cuts were forced to either shut down or cut down on production.

Early this year the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Volta River Authority increased their electricity tariffs by about 350%. This created a spontaneous uproar from the public. Fearing a repeat of the 1995 "Kume Preko" demonstration against the introduction of the Value Added Tax, the President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings ordered the two electricity monopolies to freeze the tariff increases pending the establishment of a utilities Regulatory Commission to sample public views on the tariff increases. A Public Utilities Regulatory Bill was hurried pushed through Parliament in September. The Bill was approved in October.

On 10 November, the President swore into office an eight member Board of Public Utilities Services Commission. Some analysis suggest that the tariff increases will be reviewed after the public have been sensitized on the urgency of the situation.

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