The Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana has revealed Ashanti Region is responsible for one-third of the entire debt portfolio the company in the country.
Acting Ashanti Regional Director of PDS, Engineer David Asamoah, who said this could however not readily provide the entire debt of PDS customers nationwide and how much is owed by those in the Ashanti Region.
The debt, he said, cuts across residential, commercial and industrial customers but said domestic customers owe the most.
In an interview with the media after a stakeholder interaction in Kumasi, Ing Asamoah said defaulting customers will be chased to collect debt owed the company.
“We’ve disconnected them; they’re not using the power now but they are not paying,” he said, indicating that there are also few who have also decided to go solar after pilling up the debt.
According to Ing. Asamoah, the Ashanti Region also tops in the table of illegal power connection in the country
Illegal connection in the region alone cost the PDS over three million cedis in the first quarter of this year. The figure shot up to more than eight million cedis in the second quarter of the year.
Ing. Asamoah said the power company will descend heavily on offending customers in the region to curb the menace of power theft and increase revenue mobilization.
In line with that, he said they are in talks with the Attorney General’s Department to set up a utility service court in the region to prosecute persons who in electricity bills as well as those found to be engaging in power theft.
Meanwhile, in order to improve supply and reduce power outages, 560 transformers have been installed at Offinso and Bekwai substations to reduce outages.
The company has also installed 255,000 prepaid meters in Kumasi.
Ing, Asamoah has urged all Ghanaians to help the PDS fight illegal connection assuring that the identity of informants will be protected.
By Benjamin Aidoo|3news.com|Ghana