We won’t relent on our 200% increment demand – NEDCo

The Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) remains persistent with its increment demands made to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) at a joint consultative meeting on Monday. This demand, according to Manager of Corporate Communications of NEDCO Maxwell Kotoka, will help in ensuring the company meets its operational challenges to ensure quality service delivery. “[In] our operational areas, we have some peculiarities,” Mr Kotoka said. “For example, when we want to connect power to some area, we need to travel many kilometers before getting the power to the people. So, we need logistics as well as the materials we need to ensure that those living in our jurisdiction also have access to power.” He was speaking to host of ‘Yensempa’ on Onua FM Bright Kwesi Asempa on Tuesday. Utility service providers including the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the country on Monday made an audacious demand for tariff increment at a a rate totaling 200 per cent. At a joint consultative meeting organized by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) on Monday in Accra, the utility service providers presented their proposals for upward tariff adjustment and justified the need for it. ECG, for instance, is requesting for a 64% increment, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO) wants a 31% increment while NEDCo wants a 7% increase from its current GHp0.631 per unit to GHp0.0675 per unit. Asked if their demand of a total of 200 per cent wasn’t on the high side, Mr Kotoka replied,”Many at times, we face the challenge of shortage in our meter supply causing people to wait for a long time before we procure some for them. It’s all because we don’t have the resources, so if we can have this sanctioned for us, it will help us.” He added that the utility service providers lack vehicles and other equipment in their service delivery. He clarified that the demand for increment will not affect fees charged customers. “We are not necessarily asking that our customers should pay. We just made a proposal to government through PURC and they have to decide how and where we can get what we need to operate.” By Bright Dzakah|3news.com|Ghana Follow @3Newsgh]]>