The Volta/Oti Regional Office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has hosted an educational forum in Worawora and Abotoase respectively aimed at addressing the growing concerns about high electricity bills in the area.

The forum was organized in response to mounting frustrations among residents, many of whom had threatened to stage demonstrations against ECG due to what they perceived as unfair billing practices.

The event, led by the newly established PURC Consumer Service Committee, sought to directly address the critical billing issues faced by electricity consumers in Worawora.

Representatives from PURC's Volta/Oti office, ECG Volta Regional Office, and ECG Jasikan District Office were present to engage with the community and provide clarifications on the billing process.

During the forum, ECG representatives provided an overview of the company’s billing procedures and explained the workings of the current predictive billing system, which has been a major point of contention among residents.

Many participants voiced their dissatisfaction, claiming that the predictive billing method often results in inflated charges that do not reflect their actual electricity consumption. In response, ECG officials acknowledged the residents' concerns and assured them that corrective measures would be taken to address any inaccuracies.

One of the highlights of the forum was the immediate reconnection of a customer who had been wrongly disconnected for several months due to a faulty meter. The incident underscored the real impact of billing inaccuracies on residents and demonstrated ECG's willingness to act promptly in rectifying issues brought to their attention.

In a bid to further tackle the high billing concerns, PURC committed to organizing another engagement session shortly. This follow-up event will involve ECG meter readers conducting actual meter readings from households in Worawora to reconcile with the data in the company’s system, ensuring greater accuracy and transparency in billing.

The forum was met with appreciation from the residents, who expressed their gratitude to both PURC and ECG for their swift response and willingness to engage directly with the community. The dialogue not only alleviated immediate tensions but also paved the way for more constructive interactions between the utility providers and consumers.

Speaking at the event, PURC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the interests of consumers while ensuring that utility service providers operate fairly and transparently within the region. The Commission emphasized that forums like this are essential in bridging the gap between service providers and the communities they serve, fostering a more collaborative approach to addressing utility-related grievances.

The event concluded with a renewed sense of hope among Worawora residents that their concerns would be addressed in a fair and timely manner, and both PURC and ECG vowed to continue working closely to resolve billing issues and improve customer satisfaction in the Oti Region.