Bono East PURC resolves 98.67% of complaints

The Bono East Regional Office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) resolved 98.67 per cent of complaints made to the commission in 2024.

The commission said a total of 452 complaints were lodged against the utility companies and consumers in the previous year.

Out of the complaints received, 446, representing 98.67 per cent, were resolved, while only six remain unresolved.

Major complaints

The Regional Manager of the PURC, Cassiel Eghan Asiedu, told the Daily Graphic that the majority of the complaints were made against the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).

Quoting statistics, he said 213 complaints, representing 61.20 per cent of the total complaints, were lodged against NEDCo, followed by 102 billing complaints, representing 29.31 per cent.

Mr Asiedu said 91 complaints, representing 20.13 per cent, were also lodged against consumers in the region.

Mr Asiedu said complaints such as pole faults, cable issues, power outages, phase-offs and voltage fluctuations were the highest complaints received by the office.

He said a major source through which consumers lodged the complaints with the office was via electronic media, particularly WhatsApp platforms.

Mr Asiedu said the regional office had created several WhatsApp platforms to receive complaints and to interact with its stakeholders for better services.

Improve quality service

Mr Asiedu charged utility companies in the region to improve the quality of services they rendered to consumers and assured that the commission would continue to protect the interest of all stakeholders.

Mr Asiedu expressed the need for the stakeholders to play their roles effectively to promote reliable and high-quality service delivery in the region.

"The opening of the Regional Office was strategic to address regulatory issues and bring the services of the commission close to stakeholders," he said.

Mr Asiedu called for effective collaboration among stakeholders to ensure quality services were delivered to the satisfaction of customers.

He said the office had intended to roll out a series of strategic public education activities and other initiatives to ensure transparency and trust.

Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh