Use certified wiring professionals only— Energy Commission directs
Effective October this year, property owners who fail to use the services of certified electrical wiring professionals will not be connected to the national electricity grid, the Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Dr Alfred Ofosu Ahenkrah, has stated.
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He stressed that only electricians certified by the commission would be allowed to undertake electrical wiring on any property in the country.The move comes in the wake of the full implementation of the Electrical Wiring Regulations, 2011 (LI 2008), which is due to come into effect next month.
As part of the implementation, the energy sector regulator will also do a comprehensive audit of all public facilities that have exceeded 10 years to ensure that they meet safety standards.
Graduation
Dr Ahenkrah announced these measures in Accra yesterday at the graduation of 621 Certified Electrical Wiring Professionals (CEWP) who went through the certification process of the commission.
They graduated with certificates in domestic, commercial, industrial and inspectors categories.
The event also saw the Minister of Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko, launch the Automated Timer Switch (ATS) and a mobile application that seeks to ensure efficiency in electrical systems to ensure energy savings.
Caution
Dr Ahenkrah stressed that severe sanctions would be meted out to non-professional electricians who would attempt to engage in any form of wiring with the full implementation of the law next month.
“Let me warn that from October, anyone without a recognised wiring certificate from the Commission should not attempt to wire any facility because any such act will attract severe sanctions under the law,” he said.
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He further stressed that there would be strict enforcement of the Renewable Energy Law, adding that “people who go about installing solar facilities without the necessary expertise will be brought to book.”
Admonishment
In support of the Energy Commission’s efforts, Mr Agyarko directed the energy sector utility companies, including the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) and the Enclave Power, not to flout the directive of the commission.
The minister also urged owners of facilities, especially public entities, to adhere strictly to the regulations to ensure public safety.
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App is key
Mr Agyarko said the mobile application was important in ensuring efficient monitoring of the activities of the electricians and also check the dumping of substandard materials on the market.
“The application displays the picture, telephone numbers and other details of the practitioners, and can also be used to report CEWPs who misconduct themselves, as well as rate their performances. So, it is a brilliant and proactive action that must be sustained to weed out the ills in the system,” he said.
Collaboration
The Lead Officer of the wiring programme, Mr Solomon Sarpong, said the commission would publish a list of public facilities and hospitality facilities that had met safety regulations as contained in the law.
He said the commission was also collaborating with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure that facilities complied with the wiring requirements to guarantee fire safety.