By Kebba AF Touray
A press statement from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) on Wednesday, 26 June 2024 said it has summoned the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), to a meeting on the recent power disruptions in the country. As indicated by the authority in the press release, the summoned meeting aimed to discuss the current intermittent power interruptions and shortages in the GBA and West Coast Region, and stated that the meeting came on the heels of a public outcry on the recent protracted power cuts.
PURA said the meeting availed the officials of PURA the opportunity to get first hand information from NAWEC on the reasons for the recent power disruptions and the measures put in place to mitigate the menace and minimize the burden on consumers.
“NAWEC officials in their deliberations cited the surge in demand during the summer which commensurate with loss in available capacity and overloading of transformers amongst others, as factors responsible for the power outages,” Nawec officials said. NAWEC also informed the Authority of their plans on the ongoing projects with specific timelines, to upgrade the power system including lines and transformers to handle the increase in demand and to improve the quality of service.
PURA in the release disclosed that it has enjoined NAWEC to follow suit with the planned upgrades and mitigation measures, to continue to inform its consumers of the developments taking place, and to address the current electricity woes.
“PURA assures the public that it will continue to engage NAWEC and the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the planned measures are fully implemented and that there is a smooth transition in the transformation and upgrade of the power system,” the Authority indicated.
