Dear Editor,

I think it is time Mr Kofi Kapito’s Consumer Protection Agency led a campaign to ensure consumers are compensated when personal electrical appliances get damaged as a result of power fluctuation or outage.

I had to dump my favourite sound system after it nearly caught fire due to a ‘wicked’ power outage experienced at my Baatsona residence recently. The most recent one occurred on Monday night around 9 pm.

When the power went off abruptly, it was restored after about two minutes but went off again. When it happens the power comes on with super high voltage which some of the appliances are unable to contain.

It was during one of these unstable instances that the most durable sound system I have ever had decided not to come back to life. I would have bought another one by now but not knowing when the next power outage would damage the new one too, I have decided to live without it.

Elsewhere, compensation from the service provider for this type of ‘inconvenience’ or loss of equipment would not be out of place; but that is not the case in our jurisdiction.

Although power surges are inevitable, I believe the electricity company could be more considerate any time there is a planned outage. Again, they must do well to ensure that operation of their systems does not go a long way to damage the equipment of consumers even when there is a genuine fault.

However, when the utility providers seem to be operating haphazardly without having the consumers in mind, then I would urge the public and key actors to start demanding compensation for any losses they incur as a result of ‘irresponsible’ power supply.

Frank Kumi,

Baatsona, Accra