The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced that it has succeeded in resolving the impasse between the Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana Limited and some residents of the Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo traditional areas over their alleged outrageous electricity bills.
According to the Commission, it received a formal complaint from the Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo, Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, following clashes between police and the residents who were resisting disconnection exercise being carried out by staff of PDS.
The Commission said it quickly called for a settlement meeting between the two parties as part of the steps in its complaints resolution process.
A statement issued and copied to Omanfm1071.com explained that the Commission played a mediation role between the two parties and finally resolved the complaint with the following road map towards amicable settlement.
(i) PDS should ease their stand and suspend the disconnection exercise for now.
(ii)The MP and Assembly Members who represented the people at the meeting asserted that, the residents have agreed to settle their outstanding bills and will continue to pay subsequent bills as and when they fall due.
(iii) PDS has agreed to reschedule the debts of customers for a payment period of at least six (6) months based on the merit of each individual case.
(iv) Customers who owe should at least start making some payments to show commitment for reconnection and rescheduling of their bills, while PDS also consult with senior management and move in to restore power to all affected areas.
FULL STATEMENT
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) on Friday, May 24, 2019 successfully mediated and settled the impasse between the Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana Limited and some Residents of the Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo traditional areas.
The Commission upon receipt of a formal complaint from the Member of Parliament for the Lower Manya Krobo, Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, quickly called for a settlement meeting between the two parties as part of the steps in its complaints resolution process.
The meeting was attended by the complainants (the MP and some Assembly Members of Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly), the PDS represented by the Regional General Manager and Selected staff of the Tema Region and the PURC represented by the Greater Accra Regional Office.
The Commission played a mediation role between the two parties and finally resolved the complaint with the following roadmap towards amicable settlement.
PDS should ease their stand and suspend the disconnection exercise for now.
The MP and Assembly Members who represented the people at the meeting asserted that, the residents have agreed to settle their outstanding bills and will continue to pay subsequent bills as and when they fall due.
PDS has agreed to reschedule the debts of customers for a payment period of at least six (6) months based on the merit of each individual case.
The MP, Assembly Members, Chiefs and Opinion leaders should take the necessary steps to create a peaceful and enabling environment within the area for PDS staff to have access to customers’ meters to pick current readings in order to generate the actual bills for them.
Customers who owe should at least start making some payments to show commitment for reconnection and rescheduling of their bills, while PDS also consult with senior management and move in to restore power to all affected areas.
Aside the District Office, PDS is to set up an ad hoc customer service center in the Krobo land to aid in the quick resolution of these cases.
Customers who have billing issues are to visit PDS for redress and debt rescheduling plans based on individual cases and merit.
Prior to the settlement meeting, PDS had already rescinded the 70% upfront payment before reconnection for customers whose debts are overdue and would therefore reschedule the debts for a minimum of six months based on individual cases and merit.
Also, PDS has cleansed the customer data using the CMS software to arrive at the outstanding debt of about GHs 84 million instead of GHs 195 million within the affected communities. This reduction was not a waiver but a correction of the bulk and estimated bills.
The Commission will therefore monitor closely the implementation of this roadmap and will facilitate further meetings if the need be to ensure that these issues are fully resolved.
The PURC is committed in resolving issues between the regulated utilities and customers.
The general public is therefore encouraged to promptly report all misunderstandings with electricity and water service provision in their areas to PURC for an amicable resolution.
