PURC urges public to report unsatisfactory service

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has urged the public to report any unsatisfactory service rendered by the utility companies to their offices for redress to ensure a healthy relationship between service providers and consumers.

Mr. Jude Aduamoah-Addo, the Eastern Regional Director of the PURC, said PURC had considered setting up committees in the districts where consumers could lodge their complaints for prompt action.

He said this at a forum at Suhum on Thursday to sensitize the public on the mandate of the PURC and what was required of the utility companies.

Mr. Aduamoah-Addo cited instances like power cuts without prior information or water disruptions as some of the areas that the PURC wanted the utility companies to be up and doing, by giving prior information to for customers.

He said disconnecting people on Fridays which could lead to one not having lights or water throughout the weekend because the particular company does not work over the weekend was not acceptable unless the customer was assured of prompt reconnection at the instance of payment irrespective of the day.

Mr. Aduamoah-Addo said there were many issues that the utility companies grossed over due to the public’s ignorance, and added that the PURC had been mandated to probe into such issues to ensure a high standard of service delivery to consumers and therefore urged the public to bring their complaints.

Participants at the forum chastised the two major utility providers, the ECG and the GWC, over disconnection, billing and other services, which had not been genuine and expressed the hope that the PURC would be up to their task.**