The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission in the Northern Region has held a sensitization forum for community members of Nyohani south electoral area within the Tamale Metropolis.
The forum was aimed at educating electricity consumers on the importance of earth wire and dangers of illegal connection.
The event was also to create a platform for consumers to share their concerns with management of the PURC in the region.
Explaining the importance of the earth wire, the Northern Regional Manager of PURC, Mr. Issahaq Mashoud, said complains in respect of higher bills constitute a chunk of the complains that come to the PURC office in the Region.
He indicated that, research conducted by the PURC had shown that most of the high bills are attributed to some consumer’s failure of install the earth wire at their various homes or workplaces.
“Our investigation and experience have shown that most of these high bills are attributed to the fact that some of the consumers did not have the earth wire at their premises and if you fail to have an earth wire, it leads to leakages and can even lead to destruction of your electrical appliances or even shock someone”, he narrated.
Speaking to Diamondfmonline.com on the sidelines of the event, Mr Mashoud said the mandate of the PURC is to protect the interest of the consumers, hence the education.
“We are taking it a step ahead to be proactive and educate the consumer on the need for them to always engage certified electricians who will do proper installation of their electrical fittings so that we avoid a situation where your bills are so high and you will eventual come to PURC to complain”, he said.
Mr Mashoud added that, the PURC intend to sustain the sensitization and will replicate it across their operational area, “so that all complainers get to know the implication of the fact that if you don’t have earth wire what it can result in, once people know this, they will do the right thing”.
The Norther Regional Manager of PURC, also after listen to the concerns raised by the opinion leaders however called on electricity consumers in the Northern Region to desist from tempering with NEDCo/VRA properties, including their transformers and meters within their localities.
Some of the opinion leaders while commending management of the PURC for the education also pledged to collaborate with the utility providers especially VRA to ensure proper service delivery.
Story by: Yakubu Alhassan | www.diamondfmonline.com
