Govt intervenes in electricity tariffs increment

Accra, Dec. 07, GNA - The Government on Friday raised the lifeline threshold of electricity tariff from zero to 50 to zero to 150 units to enable more families to benefit from the subsidized rate.

A government statement signed for the Minister of Information and National Orientation Ms. Oboshie Sai- Cofie to the Ghana News Agency explained that the increased lifeline ceiling was to cater for majority of Ghanaian workers - nurses, teachers, and civil servants whose consumption of electricity normally falls within the new range of zero to 150 units.

The statement said Government was extremely anxious that domestic consumers do not feel the full impact of the 35 per cent electricity tariff increment announced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission PURC last month.

Government explained that the subsidy that existed for lifeline consumers has not been removed, therefore the 35 per cent increase is still applicable for lifeline consumers, "the new tariff moved from 5.83 (GH) pesewas to 7.87 (GH) pesewas and not 12.00 (GH) pesewas as being banded around."

The Government also called on all domestic consumers to be conscious about conserving energy..."we should replace all incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs, turn off lights when we are not using them and put off all electric gadgets when not in use."

The statement said government has procured six million CFL bulbs which are currently being distributed free of charge to all domestic consumer.

The usage of these bulbs according to Government would lead to reduction of lights bills by as much as 50 percent.

The statement said government would soon initiate other measures aimed at reducing electricity tariffs of domestic users.