Whether planned or coincidental, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) seems to have been jolted into announcing 11.17% increase in electricity tariffs.
The announcement comes a day after energy sector policy think tank, African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) demanded that PURC discloses its intention on utility tariffs after the February review.
ACEP’s demand was necessitated by the silence of the PURC less than two weeks to July 1, 2019.
The PURC had indicated it would announce the outcome of February review on July 1, 2019 and ACEP felt a sudden announcement without a two week notice will not be in the interest of the Ghanaian who will be forced to doll out money to pay for an increase.
In what comes across as a swift response, the PURC in a statement announced an increase that will take effect from July 1, 2019.
In the statement, the Executive Secretary of the PURC Mami Dufie Ofori said the decision to allow the power producers and distributors to charge customers more for their services was to protect the financial viability of the companies.
“The key objective of the tariff review was to sustain the financial viability of utility service providers as well as ensuring the delivery of quality service to consumers,” she stated.
The major power companies have since 2017 complained of high indebtedness due to the low tariffs they are forced to charge for the electricity they send to the homes of Ghanaians.
Story by: Sena Nombo/Radiogoldlive.com
