The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), has ordered the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), to defer its "planned maintenance exercise on the transmission network, aimed at replacing obsolete components.

According to the PURC, failure on the part of GRIDCo to suspend this intended exercise "in a matter of one week, would result in the PURC applying full sanctions under the existing laws."

In a statement issued by the PURC, it stated that although it "acknowledges the importance of the execution of the planned maintenance works, it is also mindful of the current worsened supply of electricity nationwide and its impact on consumers of electricity and even water."

The Ghana Grid Company, which is a power transmitter, announced that it would undertake a replacement cum maintenance exercise to replace major parts of the transmission network for better service delivery.

The exercise is however scheduled to be completed in July 2016.

This exercise would worsen the already dire power crisis in the country.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission has therefore directed GRIDCo to comply with the following...

GRIDCo shall furnish the Commission with the schedule of works and planned completion dates for maintenance of the Transmission Network Infrastructure.

• GRIDCo shall furnish the Commission with details of all contingency measures the company has deployed to mitigate any impact the interruption of the transmission network may have on consumers

• GRIDCo as demanded by law shall provide prior information to the Commission before any future public announcements for planned maintenance works which may result in interruptions to worsen the current load shedding situation.

• GRIDCo shall provide a clear communication strategy it intends to deploy to inform all Stakeholders and the general public about intended interruptions associated with the planned maintenance works.

The Statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the PURC, Nana Yaa Jantuah said "The Commission envisages that if no reasonableness is attached to the execution of the replacement and maintenance exercise it is likely to compound the current Electricity challenges, which will result in a National Emergency."