Participants at a consultative forum here in Tamale have raised concerns about a proposed 40 per cent increase in electricity tariffs by the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
They said that the proposed increment by the NEDCo could impoverish customers who were currently struggling to pay the old tariffs.
Mr. Bukari Daladi, Director of Commercial Services of NEDCo hinted that the NEDCo had requested the PURC to grant the approval to increase electricity tariffs up to 40 per cent, at the forum organised by the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURC).
He explained that the NEDCo was finding it very difficult to meet its operational cost due to the low tariffs.
Abdul-Fataw Fuseini, a participant who contributed said many power customers were doing illegal connections due to the high tariffs.
He emphasised that the NEDCo was going through difficulties and that anything less than the proposed 40 per cent would hamper regular electricity supply.
He added that frequent depreciation of the Ghana cedi and high cost of fuel and items put NEDCo under severe pressure.
Mr. Daladi, therefore, appealed to the PURC to give them the greenlight to increase the tariffs in order to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
He also called on the general public to bear with the company by accepting the proposed tariffs.
However, the participants complained that the electricity bills were already high and unbearable to pay and that any additional tariffs would aggravate the poverty situation in the area.
Mr Fuseini alleged that many customers of NEDCo were stealing power because of the high tariffs and expressed the need to consider the plight of the people when fixing the tariffs.
Mr Abukari Jabaru, Director of Operation, of PURC advised the consumers to desist from power thefts as it was a serious crime.
He assured that the PURC would work assiduously to ensure that utility companies offer quality service to the consumers.
The forum which was organised by the PURC was meant to collate inputs from the general public on the proposed tariffs increment.
From Yakubu Abdul-Majeed, Tamale.
