Due to significant transmission system upgrades being carried out by the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), residents in several areas of Kumasi are being advised to prepare for sporadic power outages throughout the next four months.
According to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), the brief disruptions are required to enhance the dependability and quality of the electrical supply in Kumasi and the neighbouring territories.
In an interview with the media, Dr. Shafic Sulemana, the Commission’s executive secretary, revealed this, stating that a number of crucial transmission projects are either active or in an advanced stage.
These comprise the 330-kilovolt Accra-Kumasi transmission line, the 330-kilovolt Kumasi-Anwomaso-Kintampo transmission line, and two 161-kilovolt transformer lines at the Anwomaso substation.
In order to improve the evacuation of power from the Anwomaso power enclave into Kumasi and other regions of the country, he stated that the Kumasi-Anwomaso transmission line upgrade is especially important.
According to Dr. Sulemana, the projects are a portion of the investments anticipated to be financed by the 9% tariff adjustment that was implemented earlier this year.
He states that the PURC’s job is to make sure utility firms use tariff proceeds for vital infrastructure and service upgrades.
“There is no adjustment that occurs without us using the money to keep the lights on. Anytime you hear any tariff adjustment, it’s either we are using it to buy infrastructure or we are using it to ensure that the current power supply or water supply consumers get it and subsequently we expand for others who are not having,” he said.
Dr. Sulemana urged customers to be patient with GRIDCo during the upgrade phase, pointing out that the work may momentarily disrupt the power supply in significant areas of Kumasi.
“We are asking the Ghanaian consumer to have patience with us within the period of the four months so that we can upgrade the system for them to benefit better after the four months,” he stated.
According to PURC, there won’t be a total cutoff of the electricity supply; instead, the disruptions will be sporadic.
Additionally, it has instructed GRIDCo and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to warn impacted customers in advance and give comprehensive schedules of scheduled outages.
Customers who encounter power outages outside of the scheduled times have the right to file complaints with the PURC, according to Dr. Sulemana.
“If a consumer gets an outage outside their schedule, you can complain to the Commission so that we can hold the utilities accountable to that,” he continued.
The Commission hopes that after the improvements are finished, they would assist solve some of Kumasi’s ongoing power supply issues and eventually deliver more dependable electricity.
Source: newsthemegh.com