The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has facilitated the replacement of 10 damaged and overloaded electricity distribution transformers in the Central Region, following prolonged power outages affecting about 61,004 customers.
The intervention, undertaken through the Commission’s Central Regional Office in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), is expected to improve electricity supply in 10 affected communities.
Some residents and businesses had endured outages for weeks, with consumers in Gomoamaim reportedly going without electricity for nearly two months.
The affected communities are Ajumako-Bisease, Katakyiase, Saltpond-Kurankyekrom, Cape Coast-Social Welfare, Nyankumasi Ahenkro, Saltpond Town, Agona, Anomabo, Ekumfi Edukuma and Gomoamaim.
The estimated cost of replacing the transformers is approximately GH¢550,000.
At Ajumako-Bisease, about 5,835 customers experienced an outage lasting approximately one month. In Saltpond Township, around 8,000 customers were affected for about one month and two weeks, while approximately 7,500 customers in Anomabo endured outages lasting between three weeks and one month.
Gomoamaim recorded one of the longest interruptions, with about 4,000 customers reportedly without electricity for almost two months.
The prolonged outages disrupted households and businesses, particularly small enterprises such as cold stores, drinking spots, barbershops, hairdressing salons, restaurants and provision shops.
The PURC said its monitoring activities and engagements with consumers helped identify transformer-related challenges contributing to the prolonged interruptions. The Commission subsequently engaged ECG and called for the affected areas to be prioritised for the necessary technical interventions.
According to the PURC, the intervention forms part of its mandate to protect utility consumers and promote reliable and sustainable service delivery.
The Commission also stressed the importance of consumer complaints and feedback in identifying service deficiencies and triggering regulatory action.
With the replacement of the transformers, the PURC expects power supply in the affected communities to become more stable, providing relief to households and businesses affected by the prolonged outages.