More than 800 customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have been dragged to court for their indebtedness to the company.
The customers are indebted to the company between a period of six months and one year to the tune of GH¢900 million.
The writ was filed by the Nsawam District office under the Accra West Region of the company at the Amasaman District Magistrate Court.
In a statement of claim, the company contended that the customers, who are active clients, had failed to settle their outstanding balances after several attempts were made by the ECG to do so.
It added that the customers had not made any attempt to settle their outstanding amounts, and prayed the court to compel them to do so.
Customers dragging their feet in payment
Briefing the Daily Graphic in an interview, the Public Relations Officer of the Accra West Region of the ECG, Mr Eric Kweku Asante, expressed regret about the indebtedness.
He observed that it was regrettable that some of the customers owed the Nsawam District office between GH¢400 and GH¢10,000 and had not made any attempt to settle their debts.
In spite of the several demand notices and cautions issued to the consumers, Mr Asante indicated that they all refused to pay their arrears.
“It is unfortunate that some of these consumers are commercial users who own bigger companies but are not ready to come forward to clear up their debts. When we disconnected them they are now using generating sets,” he said.
He, however, was quick to add that the company would ensure that every pesewa owed it was collected from both active and inactive customers.
Additionally, Mr Asante stated that customers who had been disconnected should make every effort to settle their debts, indicating that “even if you are owing us and you have been disconnected, you need to pay.”
He further added that the introduction of the prepaid metering system (PMS) would go a long way to resolve the issue of indebtedness to the company and its associated challenges.
<<Print>>