Vicky Wireko: Dumsor beyond agreed plans: Should we revise our notes?
Abnormal as it is, constant blackouts, popularly referred to as Dumsor, have regrettably become part of our lives as we go through each day with the scheduled rationing of power. However, it looks like we are being burdened further lately.
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Give-it-to-God syndrome
As per the previous arrangement of 12 hours of power and 24 hours without, and typical of the Ghanaian, we have tried to adjust our lives somewhat and ‘given it to God.’ Even though we have paid upfront for our electricity, it feels like a big bonus whenever power comes on.
With it, we rush to get things done before the end of the 12 hours. In the midst of serious deprivation, we have all made sacrifices and tried to adjust with what we have.
One even thought our prayers had been heard by God when the pleasant surprise of 48 hours of power on weekends came our way recently.
Close to the end of May through to part of June, the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) rare generosity saw our power supply extended on weekends, sometimes from Friday night through to Sunday night. To some extent, one was able to plan with 48 hours of continuous power in mind for weekends. There was the feeling that the situation was improving. It did not last though.
Reduced hours of power supply
Since the end of June, our electricity supply situation seems to be going from a little better to worse. For some three weeks now, the 12-hour supply seems to be eluding us.
With some of us, power comes on at 7 o’clock and not 6 o’clock. Sometimes when we are scheduled to have power at 6 p.m., we go to sleep in darkness and wake up at 2 a.m. with the power on, only to be turned off again at 6 a.m.
A couple of Saturdays ago, when some of us in Accra West were scheduled to have had power at 6 a.m., it did not happen. Then the announcement came that one of the transformers at the Achimota sub-station was faulty and that all those in Accra East were going to stay off power as engineers ‘worked round the clock’ to restore power.
However, as it happened, those of us in Accra West were turned off as well. Irritatingly, we did not get power until 2 p.m. that day, six clear hours after, yet as soon as it was 6 p.m., it was switched off again.
Inconsistencies
The inconsistencies in the management of power supply, despite what has been agreed and the consumer’s readiness to accept the little in anticipation of the best, is raising blood pressures and making one wonder what again is going on? Why are we being kept in the dark irrespective of the fact that as key stakeholders, we have dutifully discharged upfront, our financial obligations to ECG?
Last Friday, we were on per our 12-hour schedule, but someone decided to not give us power till 6.40 a.m. it went off at 2 p.m. and then reconnected some 30 minutes later. Talking to a friend who lives off the Spintex Road last Saturday, I learnt that for three days they did not have power.
Last Sunday was a complete nightmare with our power supply. From 5.45 p.m. to 10.30 p.m., electricity went on and off six times. When it finally came back and stayed on at 10.30 p.m., it was only for a few hours. One woke up early dawn to realise power was off again.
Fairness to consumers
The question is: are we moving from 12 hours of power supply to something else so we can begin to condition our minds? What has been happening in the last three weeks or so is a mark of insensitivity to the electricity needs of consumers who have been very accommodative in this era of dumsor.
The least one would expect from ECG is to show sensitivity in the way they are handling the latest management of power rationing over and above the 12 hours of power and 24 hours without power. Consumers need fairness from our power distributors by sharing information. One needs to plan and we need that information to plan on a daily basis.
For better or for worse, consumers are entitled to know why we are witnessing less hours of power as opposed to the agreed and published 12 hours. Does one need to revise one’s notes on the number of hours to expect electricity? For now, what is happening with the schedule is a complete disorientation. Consumers of electricity deserve much better.
vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com