CPA threatens to injunct PURC from future utility tariff hikes
Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has censured the Public Utility Regulation Commission (PURC) for reneging on its supervisory role on the utility service providers in the country.
It has opined that PURC has failed woefully in protecting the common interest of consumers as enshrined in Act 538 of the 1992 Constitution.
CPA has frowned on the poor service by the utility companies and the fact that the PURC continues to push for tariff adjustment.
Chief Executive Officer Kofi Kapito, who was addressing the media in Accra on Wednesday, March 8, fretted over why the work of the PURC has been tilted only to the side of the service providers in price fixing.
He underscored that Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act, 1997 (Act 538) provides for the establishment of a Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to regulate and oversee the provision of utility services by public utilities to consumers and to provide for related matters.
He emphasized that subject to the provisions of the Act, the Commission is expected not to be subjected to the direction or control of any person or authority in the performance of its functions.
Mr. Kofi Kapito wants the PURC to use the same strength in announcing tariff increases in making sure that the service providers live up to expectations.
He has threatened to seek court injunction to bar PURC from making future tariff adjustments if consumers continue to suffer poor services from the utility companies.
“After the first quarter, if consumers are still facing the numerous problems being confronted in accessing these services there is no way the Consumer Protection Agency will support any tariff adjustment in future.”
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The CPA will not hesitate to go to court and seek an injunction to stop the implementation of any upward price adjustment as announced every quarter, he gambled.
Kofi Kapito has thus challenged the PURC who are the mandated regulators of the utility companies to ensure they provide better services to the consumers.
Source: Onua FM|3news.com|Ghana
