Power Distribution Service (PDS) has recovered GH¢8,356,140.00 from its customers in the Ashanti Region who consumed power without paying for it in the first and second quarter of this year.
The PDS visited 55,067customers during the period under review and apprehended 5,805 of them, from whom the amount was recovered.
At a media interaction, the Acting Ashanti Regional Director of PDS, David Asamoah, indicated that illegal connection and non-payment of bills was a great challenge, stressing that the chunk of the non-payment of bills had to do with domestic or residential, and the others from industries and commercial sectors.
In order to bring about sanity in the payment of bills, he hinted of the setting up of an utility court and intensification of monitoring in the region.
The Regional Director also mentioned planting of trees and buildings under their network by the public, which obstructed distribution to some areas, unauthorised meter installation, and bushfire menace as challenges confronting the service.
According to Mr Asamoah, 255,600 prepaid meters had been installed in the Kumasi metropolis, adding that the service had also completed plans to install 560 transformers in the region to improve transmission of electricity.
He touched on completed projects in some parts of the region including Bekwai, rehabilitation of the Barekese dam site, Offinso, Asekyem sub-stations and the double circuit tower line from ridge to the Neoplan Station.
Mr Asamoah said the service was poised to ensure even distribution to all and sundry, and appealed to residents and commercial entities to pay their bills as required of them.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
