PURC announces increase in electricity and water tariffs effective July 1

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has approved increases in electricity and water tariffs, effective July 1, 2026.

Under the new adjustments, electricity tariffs will increase by 3.49 percent, while water tariffs will rise by 0.85 percent.

In a statement issued on June 22, 2026, the Commission said the changes were made under its quarterly tariff review mechanism, which takes into account key economic and operational indicators affecting utility providers.

According to PURC, the review considered factors including the exchange rate between the Ghana cedi and the US dollar, inflation, the electricity generation mix, and the cost of fuel, particularly natural gas used in power generation.

The Commission said the tariff review mechanism is intended to preserve the real value of tariffs, support the financial sustainability of utility service providers, and ensure continued service delivery while considering the impact on consumers.

PURC said it applied a weighted average exchange rate of GH¢11.2228 to one US dollar for the third quarter of 2026, representing a 0.2 percent depreciation of the cedi compared with the previous quarter.

It also used a three-month average inflation rate of 3.43 percent, down from 4.17 percent in the second quarter, and a weighted average natural gas cost of US$7.9708 per MMBtu, representing a 1.58 percent decrease from the previous quarter.

Based on its assessment of these indicators, the Commission approved a 3.49 percent increase in electricity tariffs across all consumer categories for the third quarter of 2026.

PURC also approved a 0.85 percent increase in water tariffs, citing the effect of the same economic factors on the cost of water production and distribution.

The Commission thanked stakeholders for their cooperation in implementing the quarterly tariff review framework and said it would continue to monitor utility providers to promote improved service delivery.