Water and Electricity consumers have welcomed a directive from Public Utilities Regulatory Commission to the Electricity Company of Ghana and Water Company to refund excess bills to customers by February 5.

The PURC has threatened to impose sanctions if its order is not strictly enforced.

It said ECG and the GWCL began charging 59.2 and 67.2 percent respectively from December 1, 2015 instead of a December 14, 2015 timeline.

According to the PURC, if the utility providers fail to comply with the order by February 5, both companies would automatically pay a surcharge of 5 percent of the excess amount over billed to each affected customer in addition to the refund.

A statement from the PURC signed by Dr Simons Akorli, Director, Regulatory Economics and Research reiterated that the percentage increase across board for all categories of electricity consumers as announced by the Commission is 59.2 per cent.

It said the Commission would publish for the benefit of electricity consumers and the public, the electricity tariffs as gazetted, effective December 14, 2015 and published in The Ghana Gazette of December 11, 2015 as well as the tariffs published in Ghana Gazette of July 8, 2015.

“The PURC wishes to reassure all consumers that the Commission is monitoring all the feedback arising from the recent tariff increases and will not relent in ensuring that the ECG discharges its obligations to consumers”.

Some consumers who spoke to Starr News said the directive was welcome since they have been cheated since December.