The Ashanti Regional Office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has alerted electricity consumers in the region to a critical issue: unauthorised phase switching, also known as “phase changing” or “load shifting”.
Speaking at a sensitization event between PURC and electricity consumers in Kumasi on Monday, April 13, 2026, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the PURC, Edward Boduah, raised concerns across ECG’s power distribution network.
According to him, this illegal practice, in which consumers deliberately switch phases (e.g., from single-phase to three-phase or vice versa) without authorisation, is prevalent in the Ashanti region, compromising grid stability.
He explained that phase switching creates phase imbalances, overloads, and voltage fluctuations, triggering protection relays and causing widespread outages. “It’s a recipe for disaster, leading to transformer damage, equipment failures, and system-wide instability,” he warned.
Mr Boduah called on consumers, Assemblymembers, and residents to report anyone tampering with metre connections or switching phases to ECG, PURC, or the police. “Prompt action can prevent hours of power outages and avert damage to electrical equipment,” PURC notes.
The Ashanti Regional office of PURC has been engaging consumers, educating them on its mandate, tariff decisions, and LI 2413 provisions. “Unauthorised phase switching is a serious offence, and perpetrators will face penalties under relevant laws”, the PURC said.
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