PURC outdoors regulations on performance of electricity utilities

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and Energy Commission have formulated regulations aimed at improving standards of performance in the electricity distribution sub-sector.

The regulations spell out the number of hours the electricity distribution and supply utility can interrupt the service of a consumer within an operational year.

A statement signed by Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah, Director, Public Relations and External Affairs, PURC, said the allowable outage hours would vary according to geographical location.

For example total outage duration per customer in a year should not exceed 48 hours in Metropolitan and Municipal areas as well as industrial estates.

In district capitals, the outages must not exceed 72 hours and in rural areas 144 hours, the statement said.

The statement said despite the regulations, the duration of each single continuous planned or unplanned outage should not be more than eight hours in the metropolitan, municipal area or an industrial estate and such outages must not go beyond six times in an operational year.

At district capitals, outages must not go beyond 12 times and in rural areas not beyond 24 hours.

The statement indicated that interruption in electricity supply as a result of a major fault or damage to indispensable equipment in the electricity supplier’s distribution system or a planned maintenance would not be illegal and would not attract penalty.

However, where a major outage, the statement said was due to the negligence of the supplier, the prescribed penalties under the law would apply and the necessary compensation given to the consumer.

The PURC asked consumers of electricity to lodge complaints with the Commission if they suffered any breaches for the necessary action to be taken on their behalf.

The statement said the Commission was intensifying its monitoring role to ensure that the electricity utilities did not flout any quality of service and standard of performance benchmarks meant to protect consumers.

Source: GNA