PURC calls for legislation on separate metering

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has disclosed that Ghanaians are appalled by the current metering system of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

This, according to the Director of Public Relations and External Affairs at the PURC, Nana Yaa Jantuah, was because Ghanaians are not very happy with how the metering is done and that they do not understand “the consumption through their meters.”

Consumers of power had several concerns about the billing systems by service providers at places where solo meters are used to distribute power to more people.

Mrs. Jantuah has therefore called for a legislation that would mandate power distributors to provide separate meters to consumers on request.

This, she said would serve the interest of consumers of power, ensuring efficiency in the billing system.

“It is the view of the PURC that if there is a legislation that every commercial entity has to be rewired for separate metering so that if I build my house and I say this house is for rentals – it is wired in a way that it is not bulk metering,” she told a gathering at a stakeholders’ meeting in Kumasi.

The bulk metering, she said deprives consumers within the lifeline residing in a compound house to not enjoy the lifeline.

“So there should be a push and advocacy for legislation for everyone to be wired…to be separate metering,” she said.