16 November 2009
THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has urged the newly-formed Consumer Watch Groups (CWGs) on the Copperbelt to interact with communities and bring to the fore all energy concerns from the communities they will be serving.
ERB director for the northern region, Yohane Mukabe said it was the role of CWGs to interact with the communities and report the numerous energy complaints that many consumers may have to the regulator.
Mr Mukabe was speaking at the weekend at Pamo Lodge in Kitwe during the induction ceremony for the Ndola, Chingola and Kitwe CWGs.
He said the ERB had decided to form CWGs because one of its major roles was to safeguard the interests of energy consumers.
He, however, emphasised that the role of ERB was also to ensure that service providers earned a reasonable rate of return on their investment while charging reasonable prices to energy consumers.
And Mr Mukabe has cautioned the CWG to ensure that they use the public funds they would be given for their intended purpose of serving public interests.
He said ERB would not hesitate to dissolve non-performing CWGs and those which would misappropriate money or fail to utilise the limited resources prudently.
He said the CWGs members were volunteers, therefore, CWG members who were expecting personal benefits from this noble cause were in the wrong organisation.
He also warned the CWGs members not to use the CWGs as a launchpad for political ambitions.
He said ERB would not allow CWG members to launch or sustain their political careers using the CWG initiative, which was meant to benefit the communities.
He advised CWG members to ensure that the consumers got quality energy supply and services by being true representatives of the people.
He said the ERB had provided written guidelines for the CWGs to help them execute their duties effectively and transparently.
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