“Why would you owe so much money, you owe that kind of money- ECG MD

Xtranewspage

The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Masubir Mahama, is advising users of post-paid meters to pay their bills in person rather than waiting for the company to issue bills for power consumed.

Mr. Mahama told Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News, “Why would you owe so much money, you owe that kind of money and don’t want to pay on account?”

“They say you haven’t sent us bills in a long time in the case of residential customers.” However, you have previously received a bill, so it is in your best interest to continue paying what you see on your last bill until your meter is read and the reconciliation is completed, after that, you can begin shifting to your new bill amount. However, most people simply sit and do not pay. It’s also unjust to the pre-paid customer.”

He also urged post-paid meter users to average their own rate by falling back on previous bills in order to pay for the power they consume.

“Use the meter account associated with your name to pay.” You were already using the power, so pay even if you don’t see any bills. Are you saying that if the meter isn’t read, we shouldn’t bill you and let you use it for free? We’re saying you can average your own bill because you’re at home and know how much you use in a week or a month.

“Be a responsible citizen and pay on account; what is owed to you will be given to you after proper reconciliation,” the ECG MD reiterated.

“But to say you’re not going to pay anything at all, and then you’ll enjoy the service,” he emphasized, “is not fair to a pre-paid customer who has to pre-pay what he/she is going to consume.”

Since Monday, March 20, the ECG’s National Taskforce has been disconnecting power to some companies, including Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), KFC, and Ho Airport, as part of its national revenue mobilization.

Parliament, Fabrimetal Company, West Africa’s largest steel manufacturer, B5 Plus Company Limited in Tema, and others who owe the ECG have settled some of their debts in order to avoid being discounted.

The company disconnected KFC because it owed GHS68,000, Ho Airport because it owed GHS63,000, GRA Office because it owed GHS55,000, CEPS training academy because it owed GHS80,000, and Ho Technical University because it owed GHS402,000.

However, after intense negotiations with the ECG, Ho Technical University paid GHS200,000 and was told to settle the arrears by the end of March 2023.