PURC urges public patience over new utility tariffs, cites rising costs
Mohammed Adam Sulaiman explained that the tariff increments are necessary to keep utility providers operational and capable of meeting the country's growing demands.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has called on Ghanaians to exercise patience and understanding in light of the recent increases in electricity and water tariffs, emphasizing the need to sustain essential utility services.
In its latest quarterly adjustment, PURC has announced a 14.75% increase in electricity tariffs and a 4.02% hike in water tariffs. The new rates are scheduled to take effect on May 3, 2025.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Thursday, April 17, Mohammed Adam Sulaiman, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of PURC in the Upper East Region, explained that the tariff increments are necessary to keep utility providers operational and capable of meeting the country’s growing demands.
“Some of the things we do, we don’t have any other option. If we don’t do it, there will be a disaster,” Sulaiman stated, pointing to rising operational costs and external factors influencing pricing.
He noted that the adjustments were informed by key economic indicators such as the exchange rate, inflation, generation mix, and the cost of natural gas, which affect the production and delivery of utilities across the country.
Sulaiman stressed that PURC remains sensitive to the economic pressures facing ordinary Ghanaians and had taken these realities into account before approving the new tariffs.
“We considered the economic situation of the public in adjusting the current rates. Without that, Ghanaians would have paid higher tariffs,” he said.
He reassured consumers that PURC’s role is to strike a delicate balance between protecting public interest and ensuring that utility providers can operate sustainably.
“We stand in-between to ensure that we don’t overburden the consumer while making sure that the interest of the utility provider is also considered,” he added.
The latest tariff adjustment is part of PURC’s quarterly review mechanism, which aims to reflect real-time economic trends while maintaining uninterrupted access to power and water services.
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