Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Nana Amoasi VII, has called for a reversal to the national electricity grid code system.
According to him, this will help in defining the rules of engagement for key energy stakeholders such as ECG and GRIDCO.
His comments follow the friction between GRIDCO and ECG over the former’s decision to sell power for industrial use.
Nana Amoasi VII described the ongoing feud between the two as a phenomenon which isn’t “good news”. He explained that when key players in the sector have such issues with each other, “it becomes cause for concern”.
“We don’t expect them to have any challenges of this nature. So, as we hear that it’s on the desk of the minister, we hope that it will be addressed as soon as possible in order not to affect the reliability of power supply in the system.
“To clarify all these issues, we need to revert to the national electricity grid code that will determine exactly and… clarify what each player can do in order not to generate any conflict going forward”.
Nana Amoasi VII
Elaborating on the matter, the IES boss revealed that GRIDCO’s main objective is to move power for bulk consumers as well as for ECG or NEDCO. However, some companies like the mines and VALCO had received their power directly from GRIDCO.
As such, “GRIDCO has the right not to sell power but to move power directly to bulk consumers”.
That notwithstanding, Nana Amoasi VII asserted that due to the huge “debt owed by ECG to GRIDCO”, some of these bulk customers approach GRIDCO which serves their “bulk lines”.
Invariably, he explained that this is to ensure “extra debt are not created on the stream when it has to go through ECG”.
Rectifying ECG-GRIDCO impasse via National Electricity Grid
In a bid to resolve the challenge between the two energy players, Nana Amoasi VII enlisted the support of the Energy Commission, which he described as the “owner of the entire system”.
“Both ECG and GRIDCO serve under the energy commission. So, they’ll be in a better position to do that as well as the PURC; they determine the pricing and revenues in there. Ultimately, the national electricity grid code is what these two entities that I’ve mentioned will look at and settle this amicably and as soon as possible”.
Nana Amoasi VII
The National Electricity Grid establishes the requirements, procedures, practices and standards that govern the development, operation, maintenance and use of the high voltage transmission system in Ghana.
The purpose of the Grid Code is to ensure that the NITS provides fair, transparent, non-discriminatory, safe, reliable, secure and cost efficient delivery of electrical energy
The Grid Code is issued by the Energy Commission and it is based on the provisions of sections 24, 27 and 28 of the Energy Commission Act, 1997 (Act 541).
Invariably, the Act works together to ensure the coordinated operation of the high voltage transmission system within Ghana.
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