Ashanti Regional PURC secures GH‵338,452 refund for consumers

The Ashanti Regional Office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has facilitated a total refund of GH‵338,452.64 to utility consumers who were overcharged or wrongly billed between July and September 2026. This regulatory intervention highlights the commission's role in addressing consumer grievances and ensuring fairness within the utility sector. During the third quarter of the year, the office successfully resolved 1,076 out of the 1,141 complaints received, representing a resolution rate of 94.3%.

Data from the regional office reveals that the vast majority of complaints were directed toward the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), which accounted for 95.5% of the cases filed. The remaining complaints involved the Ghana Water Limited. The primary issues raised by consumers included poor quality of service supply, billing inaccuracies, and metering challenges. Through its investigative processes, the PURC was able to verify these claims and mandate the necessary adjustments and refunds for affected households and businesses.

Beyond consumer protection, the PURC also acted to ensure the financial sustainability of the utility providers. In the same period, the commission assisted in the recovery of GH‵2,969,052.02 for the utility companies. This dual approach underscores the commission's mandate to maintain a balanced relationship between service providers and their customers, ensuring that while consumers are not exploited, the utilities also receive the revenue they are legitimately owed for services rendered.

The commission has reiterated its commitment to upholding high standards of utility service delivery across the Ashanti Region. By maintaining accessible channels for dispute resolution, the PURC aims to enhance transparency and accountability among service providers. Moving forward, the regional office expects to continue its monitoring of billing systems and supply quality to prevent the recurrence of the widespread issues identified during this reporting period.