Business News of Saturday, 22 December 2012

Source: Daily Guide

ECG Reduces System Losses

The Managing Director of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), William Hutton-Mensah has stated that system losses were reduced significantly from 27.2 percent in 2011 to 21.3 percent in September, 2012.

Speaking at the official inauguration of the Ayigya District Office of the ECG in the Ashanti East Region recently, Mr Hutton-Mensah attributed the sharp decline in system losses to the scientific approach adopted by the ECG including the introduction of automatic meter reading systems.

He charged the general public to rapidly report people who tap electric power illegally to the appropriate agencies.

He said illegal power supply was among key challenges facing the ECG in its efforts to provide uninterrupted power supply to its clients.

Mr. Hutton-Mensah reminded the general public that the ECG’s policy of rewarding people that provide tip-off was in force.

He appealed to the people of Ghana to help the ECG to apprehend people that engage in nefarious activities.

He highlighted four thematic areas which could help the ECG improve services, adding that they include improvement in power supply, improvement in revenue collection, reduction in system posses and improvement in customer service.

Mr. Hutton-Mensah tasked the general public to constantly pay their electricity bills so that the company would be financially sound to provide first-class services to its clients.

He cautioned ECG staff to exhibit good behavior, stressing that management would not tolerate any misconduct from its staff.

Expressing delight over the newly-constructed Ayigya District Office of the ECG, he said the move formed part of planned programme by the ECG to get closer to its clients, announcing that more of such offices would soon be established in Ashanti West and East.

The ultra-modern edifice was constructed and furnished at the cost of GH¢1.3 million through ECG’s internal generated funds.

Abdulai Kurah, Ashanti East Regional Manager of the ECG, in his remarks, said the Ayigya District Office would cater for about 39,000 customers from about 29 communities in Kumasi.

In a speech read on his behalf, Prof. Otoo Ellis, KNUST Vice Chancellor, bemoaned the rampant interruption in power supply on campus which affect academic work, urging the ECG to improve its services.

He tasked the ECG to explore avenues where the university and the ECG could collaborate to mutually benefit the two prestigious institutions and mother Ghana at large.

The Chief of Boadi, near KNUST, Nana Konadu Yiadom, commended the ECG for instituting its recent power extension programme in the area.