PURC to implement the automated tariff adjustment this year

Accra, Feb. 1, GNA - The Public Utility Regulatory Commission would this year implement the automated tariff adjustment system in all its transactions, Mr Emmanuel Annan, PURC Board Chairman has said. He said under the system, utility tariffs would be reviewed every three months rather than the annual or bi-annual adjustments.

Mr Annan announced this when he led a delegation of utility providers to inform the Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, of the new development and how it would be implemented at the Castle, Osu.

Last year, Vice President Mahama after the announcement of new tariffs, called on them to review their tariffs on regular basis, in order not to accumulate and release high tariffs for consumers. Subsequently, the utility providers were advised to implement the automated tariff adjustment formula which was quite insignificant and could be more acceptable.

Mr Annan who was unable to announce the month of implementation, however, gave the assurance that it will be implemented within this year, 2011. He said they were still fine-tuning the variables and upon completion the system would be implemented.

Vice President Mahama who met with them in a closed-door meeting, earlie= r on called on them to expedite action on the system in order to avoid the rebuttals and bashings they received last year after the announcement of ne= w tariffs. "It will be better to review your tariffs steadily, than waiting for a year or more to release heavy figures that will create discomfort for consumers", he stressed.