The Bono Regional Office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has intensified its consumer education and stakeholder engagement drive with a visit to the Kukuom Traditional Palace to address persistent concerns over electricity services in the community.
The engagement, which brought together the Chief of Kukuom, his sub-chiefs, elders and members of the community, formed part of the Commission’s efforts to deepen consumer awareness, promote accountability and strengthen collaboration between utility consumers and service providers.
The outreach was prompted by a number of complaints received from residents regarding electricity-related challenges in the community.
Regulatory mandate
During the engagement, officials of the PURC explained the Commission’s regulatory mandate and educated participants on their rights and responsibilities as consumers of electricity and water services.
The session provided an opportunity for residents to openly raise concerns about their experiences with utility services. PURC officials responded to the issues raised, providing clarification on regulatory procedures, complaint-resolution mechanisms and the avenues available to consumers seeking redress.
The Commission used the occasion to encourage consumers to become more familiar with their rights and obligations, stressing that an informed consumer is better positioned to demand quality services while also meeting the responsibilities required to sustain the utility sector.
Participants were also encouraged to use established channels to report service challenges and seek appropriate intervention rather than resorting to unauthorized measures.
Illegal connections
The PURC further cautioned residents against illegal electricity connections, describing the practice as dangerous and unlawful.
Officials explained that electricity theft and unauthorized connections could endanger lives and property, expose offenders to legal consequences and undermine the efficient operation of electricity distribution networks.
The community was therefore urged to desist from illegal connections and other practices that could compromise public safety and the reliability of electricity supply.
The Commission also stressed the importance of timely payment of utility bills, noting that consumers have a shared responsibility in supporting the financial sustainability of utility service providers and, ultimately, the delivery of reliable services.
Complaints
As part of efforts to ensure that concerns raised at the engagement translate into concrete action, the PURC said it would work closely with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) to investigate and address the complaints documented during the exercise.
The collaborative approach, according to the Commission, is intended to ensure that legitimate consumer concerns are properly investigated and resolved while promoting fairness and accountability between consumers and service providers.
The engagement reaffirmed the PURC’s commitment to taking regulatory education and consumer protection directly to communities and creating avenues for dialogue between consumers, traditional authorities and utility providers.
The Commission said such engagements would continue to form part of its broader efforts to strengthen consumer confidence, improve service delivery and ensure that utility services are provided in a fair, transparent and accountable manner.
