ECG Gets Tough with Illegal Connectors

Accra, June 28, GNA - The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has set up a Lost Control Unit (LCU) to monitor all illegal connections and bring offenders to book.

Mr A. T. Barfour, Director of Accra-East region of the company, announced this at a forum at Taifa in Accra to educate domestic and commercial consumers on "saving energy to cut down on cost".

The forum, one of a series organised by the Accra-East regional office of the ECG, was also to address problems arising from revenue collection, meter reading and other teething problems facing consumers.

Mr Barfour said it has come to the notice of the ECG that there are several illegal connections in some parts of the city, adding that the situation is costing the company a fortune "since we bear those utility costs without getting any returns".

This, coupled with the fact that many individual and corporate consumers are owing the company in billions, makes it difficult for it to meet its obligations, "especially in the case of major faults".

He said the company, in collaboration with the police, has, therefore, set up the LCU to bring offenders to book.

"Anyone caught with an illegal connection would be fined not less than 200,000 cedis in addition to a minimum of six months' bill or bills covering the period of the illegal connection."

Mr Barfour noted that some unscrupulous characters have been parading as personnel and agents of the ECG and selling meters to consumers, adding: "our meters are not for sale; they are corporate properties and consumers are only obliged to pay for a connection fee".

He, therefore, advised consumers to treat meter sellers as thieves and cheats and report them to the ECG or the police.

Mr Barfour said those revenue collectors who issue receipts should also be avoided, adding: "if you pay bribes to such people, you have to remember that the law will catch up with you in a matter of time".

In reaction to complaints about delays in connections and addressing faults, Mr Barfour said the company lacks adequate personnel to meet its connection obligations and address the several faults that occur within a given period.

He noted that since the rains started, suburbs in the Accra-East region alone have developed about 40 major and minor faults in addition to those who need to be newly connected.

"We do not have the adequate personnel and some of the equipment needed to address some of the problems are not available as of now; we have, however, drawn up a programme of action to meet them one after the other."

Mr Barfour asked consumers to develop the attitude of reading their meters themselves to ensure that it is in consonance with what the ECG has recorded to avoid revenue collection problems.

He disabused the minds of consumers that the ECG cannot be taken to court, saying: "if you feel the ECG is not meeting its obligation towards you, you have every right to file a civil suit against us.

But do not forget the consequences if the tables turn."

Mr Mek Kissi Antwi, Commercial Manager of the region, advised consumers to use power wisely, saying that the higher you consume, the greater the rate at which the bill increases.

He recommended Nevada CFLS bulbs to consumers, saying they consume less energy and have a longer life span than the ordinary bulbs and fluorescent tubes.

Nana Kwamena Mireku, Taifahene, pledged to offer the ECG a parcel of land to construct a permanent structure for revenue collection to make the exercise easy for both the ECG and consumers in the area.