PURC Secures GH¢338,452 Refunds for Ashanti Consumers

The Ashanti Regional Office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has secured refunds totalling GH¢338,452.64 for consumers who were wrongly billed or overcharged by utility providers during the third quarter of 2026.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Commission said it also recovered GH¢2,969,052.02 in legitimate revenue for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Ltd (GWL).

The development forms part of PURC’s regulatory interventions in the Ashanti Region for the quarter ending September 2026, aimed at protecting consumers while ensuring utility providers recover revenues legitimately owed to them.

During the period, PURC received 1,141 complaints against ECG and GWL and successfully resolved 1,076, representing a resolution rate of 94.3 per cent.

ECG accounted for the majority of the complaints, with 1,090 cases, representing 95.5 per cent of the total, while GWL recorded 51 complaints, equivalent to 4.5 per cent.

According to PURC, the high number of complaints against ECG was largely linked to concerns over the quality and reliability of electricity supply in the region.

Quality of supply was the dominant concern, recording 1,072 complaints, representing about 94 per cent of all cases received during the quarter.

Billing issues followed with 38 complaints, while 15 cases concerned metering. Consumer service delivery recorded nine complaints, payments four, and unlawful disconnection three.

PURC said its interventions went beyond resolving complaints, with several practical measures implemented to address technical and service-related challenges.

The interventions included the replacement of four faulty electricity poles, three faulty transformers and one defective energy meter.

The Commission also assisted consumers in securing 35 new service connections that had reportedly been unduly delayed.

PURC said the interventions provided relief to affected households and businesses while ensuring consumers received the services they had applied and paid for.

The Commission noted that the GH¢338,452.64 refunded to consumers represented monies wrongly charged or overcharged and subsequently recovered through its regulatory processes.

Meanwhile, the GH¢2.97 million recovered for ECG and GWL reflects PURC’s efforts to protect legitimate revenues due to the utilities.

The Commission said the figures demonstrate its dual responsibility of protecting consumers while supporting the financial sustainability of regulated utility providers.

Field activities accounted for the largest source of complaints during the period, generating 810 cases brought to the attention of the PURC.

By Esther Padmore Amonoo