ECG task force retrieves GHC36m from defaulters

A new task force set up by the Electricity Company of Ghana to check activities of defaulters and electric power thieves has retrieved GHC36 million in just one week of working.

This was disclosed by the Deputy Minister of Power, John Jinapor at the road show for investors on the concession for the management, operation and investment in company.

According to reports, nearly 30 percent of ECG’s power distribution is not paid for. The situation according to Mr. Jinapor is worrying.

He said “we have set up a task for that has started this operation to ensure that all those who are by passing, stealing and using electricity without paying, we would bring them into the net.

“You cannot have a system where you increase tariff, one segment of society is paying and the other is not paying. It will interest you to know that just last week alone, through that exercise, they realised an amount of 36 million cedis” he added.

On the wrongful billing of customers, the Deputy Minister indicated that ECG has been tasked to reimburse such clients adding that “we are doing a full audit of the ECG system and I want to assure everybody that we shall address that challenge.

“We want to ensure that you are billed according to what the PURC has gazetted and if you’re overbilled there shall be a refund and the process is ongoing. So those of you who are still having challenges, rest assured we are working around the system and it will be resolved soon.”

The PURC approved an increase in electricity tariff by 67.2 percent which took effect from December 14 last year which led to billing problems.