Officials of the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) have engaged electricity consumers in various communities in Lower Manya Krobo, as part of a roadmap towards ending the seeming unending disagreement between residents and power suppliers.
The engagement, according to the Greater Accra Regional manager of the PURC will offer the Commission an opportunity to engage consumers on individual basis, receive their complaints and forward them to the PDS for necessary resolution.
The residents revolted when officials of PDS disconnected power to the communities.
The residents complained about over billing, wrong billing methods as well as accumulated bills.
The Greater Accra Manager of the PURC, Gifty Bruce Nelson told Citi News she is hopeful of a positive outcome after the deliberations.
Giving more details on moves the PURC and PDS are taking to make bills more bearable for the consumers, Ms Nelson said: “If it is really a huge bill, PDS will have to pass an adjustment on the bill but if it is a correct bill, PDS can give the complainants some time to pay the bills. If someone has GHc 2,000 to pay, they will not ask the person to pay at a go. They have payment schedules.”
PDS suspended an ongoing disconnection exercise at Kpongunor weeks ago after youth in the area reportedly mounted roadblocks and threatened to attack staff of PDS.
Some police officers who were dispatched to the scene had to withdraw subsequently as they were outnumbered by the irate youth.
A similar feud between residents and workers of PDS turned bloody in 2017 when angry residents in Somanya attacked PDS’ office.
Police vehicles were torched and properties destroyed in the violent attack.
Many residents have since refused to pay electricity bills and threatened to attack PDS staff who attempt disconnecting their homes.