The Bono East Regional Office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission has decried the increased intrusion of unapproved meters in the region, which is negatively affecting the revenue of utilities, especially the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).

According to the Regional Manager, Cassiel Eghan Asiedu, substandard meters that are not from NEDCo nor the Ministry of Energy have found their way into homes of residents, making the utilities lose important revenue that could be used for investment.

“We have become aware of some persons going around selling some unapproved meters to unsuspecting residents of the region.

This action is illegal and badly affecting the revenue of NEDCo.

We urge prospective customers to visit the utility for service connections and desist from buying from private persons,” he said.

Speaking on the office’s mid-year review, he revealed that the office was able to facilitate the passage of credit adjustments in the tune of GHC79,253.91 in favour of customers who reported anomalies in their electricity bills to the Commission.

He added that the Commission also facilitated the recovery of an amount of GHC21,991.47 in favour of NEDCo within the first half of the year.

Mr. Asiedu indicated that out of a total of eight hundred and twenty-six (826) complaints that were brought against the utilities and consumers over the period, the office was able to resolve seven hundred and ninety-one (791), representing 95.76%.

Quality of service was the major issue complained about by consumers, representing 91.64% of the total complaints lodged. He stressed that over thirty-two thousand (32,000) customers were reached through the Commission’s public education drive, making it easy for consumers to access the Commission.

He indicated that the Commission would consolidate its gains through sustained, transparent stakeholder engagements and the enforcement of benchmarks.