The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) of Ghana has successfully restored electricity to approximately 61,004 customers in ten communities across the Central Region. The affected areas endured power outages lasting up to two months due to burnt-out and overloaded transformers. The intervention was carried out in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) through the PURC's Central Regional Office.
The communities that experienced prolonged outages include Ajumako-Bisease, Katakyiase, Saltpond-Kurankyekrom, Cape Coast-Social Welfare, Nyankumasi Ahenkro, Saltpond Town, Agona, Anomabo, Ekumfi Edukuma, and Gomoamaim. The outages varied in duration, with some areas like Gomoamaim facing nearly two months without electricity. At Ajumako-Bisease, about 5,835 customers went without reliable power for roughly a month, while approximately 8,000 customers in Saltpond Township endured an outage lasting about a month and two weeks.
The total cost of replacing the ten damaged transformers is estimated at approximately GH¢550,000. The prolonged outages had significant impacts on local businesses and households, resulting in lost working hours, lost customers, and spoiled goods. Small businesses such as cold stores, drinking spots, barbershops, hairdressing salons, restaurants, and provision shops were severely affected. Households relying on refrigeration, phone charging, and basic lighting were also impacted for weeks on end.
The PURC's intervention was prompted by its own monitoring activities and direct engagement with affected consumers, which helped identify transformer faults as the root cause of the prolonged interruptions. The Commission then engaged ECG and pushed for the affected areas to be prioritized for technical repairs. This action aligns with PURC's mandate to protect utility consumers and ensure efficient, reliable service delivery.
The replacement of the transformers is expected to stabilize power supply in the affected communities, offering relief to households and businesses whose operations were disrupted. The PURC emphasized that consumer complaints played a central role in flagging the weaknesses that prompted the regulatory response. The successful intervention demonstrates the importance of active monitoring and swift action in addressing electricity distribution challenges.
The scale and duration of these outages highlight a wider challenge facing Ghana's electricity distribution network, where ageing or overloaded transformers can leave entire communities cut off for extended periods before repairs are made. The PURC's action underscores the need for continued investment in infrastructure and proactive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
With the immediate issue resolved, attention now turns to preventing similar risks in other parts of the Central Region and the country more broadly. Although there is no indication of further inspections or a specific timeline for addressing similar risks, the PURC's intervention sets a precedent for addressing electricity distribution challenges and protecting consumer interests.
Key points
- The PURC replaced 10 damaged transformers affecting over 60,000 customers in the Central Region.
- The outages lasted up to two months and had significant impacts on local businesses and households.
- The total cost of replacing the transformers is estimated at approximately GH¢550,000.
