The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) finds itself in hot water as the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) imposes a hefty fine of GH¢5,868,000 on its board members for flouting regulatory mandates.
Former Board Chair Keli Gadzekpo and current Managing Director Samuel Dubik Mahama, along with other board members who served from January 1 to March 18, 2024, have been penalized for contravening Regulation 39 of L.I. 2413. This regulation stipulates that consumers must be notified in advance of any planned power interruptions.
The PURC’s action comes in response to ECG’s failure to comply with directives issued in a letter dated March 18, 2024. The commission had instructed ECG to release a load-shedding timetable by April 2, 2024, a directive that was blatantly disregarded without explanation.
Moreover, the PURC requested ECG to furnish data on planned outages conducted between January and March. Upon analysis, the commission discovered a total of 4,142 outages during this period, with only 165 being ECG-planned outages. Shockingly, out of these, 125 were executed without any prior public notices, and the remaining 40 notices failed to comply with the required three-day statutory notice as per Regulation 39 of L.I. 2413.
Consequently, the PURC levied a fine of 3,000 penalty units on ECG for each violation incurred due to non-compliance with the timetable directive and inadequate notice for planned outages. The total sum of GH¢5,868,000 reflects the gravity of these transgressions.
In justifying the imposition of the fine on ECG’s board members, the PURC cited the company’s ownership structure and the potential adverse effects of revenue depletion on service quality and consumers. This decision underscores the commission’s commitment to upholding regulatory standards and ensuring accountability within the energy sector.
The PURC’s action sends a clear message to utility providers regarding the importance of regulatory compliance and transparency in service delivery. As ECG grapples with the repercussions of these penalties, stakeholders and consumers alike await tangible improvements in operational efficiency and adherence to regulatory protocols to prevent future infractions.
In the face of mounting scrutiny, ECG’s leadership must heed the lessons learned from this episode and redouble efforts to prioritize consumer welfare and regulatory compliance, thereby restoring public trust in Ghana’s energy infrastructure.
