Minority questions basis for PURC's 3.49% electricity tariff increase

The Minority on Parliament's Energy Committee has questioned the basis for the 3.49 per cent increase in electricity tariffs announced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), arguing that the adjustment will impose an additional burden on households and businesses.

Addressing the media, the Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee, Collins Adomako-Mensah, criticised the latest tariff review and called for greater transparency from the regulator.

According to him, the recurring utility tariff increases since the assumption of office by President John Dramani Mahama have fallen short of public expectations and require clearer justification.

Mr Adomako-Mensah maintained that the government and the PURC have not adequately explained the rationale behind the latest adjustment, particularly following Ghana's exit from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) support programme.

He called on the PURC to publish the full calculations, methodology and data used in determining all tariff adjustments implemented since January 2025.

The Deputy Ranking Member also expressed surprise at the latest increase, citing the relative strength of the Ghana cedi, declining inflation and lower interest rates as economic indicators that, in his view, should have contributed to lower utility costs rather than higher tariffs.

The PURC recently announced a 3.49 per cent increase in electricity tariffs and a 0.85 per cent increase in water tariffs under its third-quarter tariff review, with the new rates scheduled to take effect from July 1, 2026.