The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has admitted that some customers on pre-paid meters have experienced over payments as a result of the new utility tariffs. It explained, however that efforts had been made to credit such customers with the extra units to cover the payments. The Acting Director of Customer Service of the ECG, Mr. Alex Osei told the Daily Graphic that the disproportionate charges arose because in June, when the implementation of the new tariffs began, the ECG and the government had not reached an agreement on the levels of subsidy. He however stated that those who were billed in accordance with the full increases had been credited with the extra figures because an agreement had now been reached between government and the ECG on subsidies for life-liners or poor consumers. He said with the issue of subsidies settled between the government and the ECG, customers on pre-paid meters would automatically be credited with any balance on their previous payments. Some residential consumers on the pre-paid meters are reportedly paying more than 150 percent increases in their tariffs, while some industrial businesses have reported more than 200 per cent increases. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has also complained of an absence of uniformity in the pre-paid meter types being used, while it was uncertain of the oversight responsibility of the ECG over companies to which the reading of credit meters had been outsourced by the ECG. Mr. Osei conceded that there had been increases and some customers had, through the media, raised concerns but that had been corrected now with the application of the subsidies by the government. He explained further that there were categories of subsidiaries for consumers between 1 to 150 units. For those consuming 1 to 50 units, one category enjoyed a flat rate of 6.08 Gp, while the second category would enjoy 1.63Gp per kilo watt hour (kWh). For those consuming from 52 to 150 units, a rate of 4.13 was charged per kWh. He said for customers who bought units for the prepaid meters, any extra payments made would be credited physically, while for customers who deposited money for their units; their systems would rationalize the overpayments with their consumption and carrying forward any extra amounts. Mr. Osei said the prepaid meters were all the same with no cause for worry over differences in the system that could result in some difference in billing. He advised those in doubts to verify by comparing the units they used and the corresponding charges with orders to be sure. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana