ECG board members slapped GHS5.8 million fine by PURC for failing to alert public 3 days prior to dumsor

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has penalized the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to the tune of GHS5.8 million for failing to properly alert the public about planned power outages.

In a regulatory order issued on April 15, PURC found that ECG failed to comply with regulations requiring it to give consumers at least 3 days notice before planned outages.

Based on data analyses, PURC said there were 163 instances where ECG did not adhere to this requirement.

According to the order, "For failure to comply with the 3-day statutory notice required under Regulation 39 of L.I. 2413, the Commission in accordance with Regulation 45 of L.I. 2413, hereby imposes a regulatory charge of 3,000 penalty units on ECG for each of the 163 breaches, amounting to Five Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Ghana Cedis."

PURC observed that fining ECG's revenues could further harm service quality and consumers.

Therefore, the GHS5.8 million penalty will have to be paid personally by ECG's board members who were in office when the violations occurred between January and March 2024.

ECG has been given until May 30, to pay the hefty fine into a dedicated fuel account jointly controlled by the Ministries of Energy and Finance.

Failure to comply could result in further regulatory action from PURC.

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