ECG Boss Decries Dumsor Requests From GRIDCo

Samuel Dubik Mahama

 

Samuel Dubik Mahama, the Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has voiced concerns over the increasing frequency of load management requests made by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), citing customer disturbance and irritation as a result.

In response to GRIDCo’s complaint to the Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, regarding ECG’s alleged non-compliance with load management requests, Mr. Dubik Mahama emphasized the disruptive impact these routine requests have had on customers.

In his letter dated April 5, Mr. Mahama expressed, “Requests from GRIDCo for load management have transitioned from emergency operations to daily occurrences, causing inconvenience and disturbance to our customers.”

While affirming ECG’s commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to maintain the Transmission system’s stability, Dubik Mahama stressed the importance of receiving load management notices in a timely manner to facilitate effective planning and execution.

Echoing the need for prior notification, Mr. Mahama highlighted the necessity of receiving load management requests from GRIDCo at least 3 to 4 hours before peak or off-peak periods to minimize customer disruptions.

He explained, “To prevent customers from experiencing multiple outages due to ECG’s internal issues or scheduled maintenance conflicting with GRIDCo’s load management requests, advance notification is imperative.”

He disclosed that ECG has raised concerns over the delayed receipt of load management instructions from GRIDCo in discussions with the Ministry of Energy and GRIDCo. Emphasizing the need for improved communication and coordination, he urged GRIDCo to provide timely notifications to facilitate smooth load management processes.

The ongoing dialogue between ECG, GRIDCo, and the Ministry of Energy underscores the importance of efficient load management practices to ensure uninterrupted power supply for consumers across Ghana.

By Vincent Kubi