Dr. Ishmael Ackah
Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has started a nationwide public education campaign on the electricity consumption estimator aimed at helping consumers and stakeholders to use electricity efficiently.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Ishmael Ackah, in an engagement with students of the University of Ghana which forms part of a series of programmes to engage all stakeholders including students as part of a campaign to educate the public on tariffs by the Commission as well as to solicit their views.
He said his outfit has already engaged other stakeholders including the Ghana Water Company, the Electricity Company of Ghana to enable them obtain feedback in the sector as well as help improve energy and water services.
Dr. Ackah also mentioned that apart from the University of Ghana, where the tariff education in schools began, the Commission will visit other tertiary educational Institutions across the country in addition to consumer clinics targeted at Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), NEDCO, groups and other stakeholders while its regional offices visits Senior High Schools and Colleges of Education.
Explaining the importance of the newly launched tariff reckoner to consumers, the Executive Secretary said “the tariff reckoner calculates the units consumers are to purchase or if you have your money, the reckoner tells the consumer how much units to get. People can therefore ask question if they get anything different from what they purchase”.
He added that the tariff estimator would also help consumers to know the contribution of items such as bulb, refrigerator, air condition or television used at home are contributing to the total tariff in a month.
This he further explained would help consumers manage their consumption of electricity at all times.
He stated that the PURC, which began quarterly adjustment review on tariffs since 2015 would continuously review tariffs quarterly to ensure consumers were provided the best of services.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah