PURC should publish gazette on tariff cuts – Jinapor

A former Deputy Power Minister John Jinapor has asked the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) to publish the gazette confirming the new tariff reduction before its implementation.

The PURC announced new adjustments meant to take effect from today, Thursday, 15 March 2018, but the ECG has said the reductions will reflect from 1 April 2018.

Mr Jinapor reacting to the development believes the tariff review is a deception.

In a statement he said: “Electricity Consumers were informed recently that their tariffs have been reduced significantly leading to jubilation and celebrations.

“Indeed the PURC, announced that effective March 15, 2018, residential customers will enjoy a 17.5% reduction, while non-residential customers will see tariffs cut by 30%. It went further to state that those in the mining sector would witness a 10% tariff cut, and 25% cut for Special Load Tariff Customers (LV, MV & HV).

“Ten days after the announcement, the PURC has failed to publish the gazette confirming these reductions as required before the implementation of these adjustments.

“More disturbing is the fact that the Electricity Company of Ghana has equally failed or unable to publish the official Reckoner which provides details to confirm these reductions.

“For the records, the Reckoner which provides information on the end user tariffs for the various consumption bands must precede the implementation date of 15th March 2018 which is today.

“How is the ECG/NEDCO going to implement the revised Tarrifs without a Reckoner?

“How can a consumer confirm that indeed the announced reductions are reflected in their bills without a Reckoner to compare?

“Is the PURC misleading Ghanaians or is it the case that they presented the reductions to Ghanaians under duress?

“What are the true reduction levels if any, and what is Government hiding from the good people of Ghana?

“If indeed there has been a 17.5%, 30%, 10% and 25% reduction for the various consumer brackets, why are the Distribution Companies not publishing the details from the Reckoner to confirm these figures?

“Who is Interfering and/or Manipulating the ECG and PURC from performing their various legitimate roles?

“There is a wise saying that; ‘you may succeed in using deception to achieve your objective in the present but be certain it will always take it away in the future’”.

“Ghanaian deserve the right to know the authenticity or otherwise of these announcements and that must be done through the publication immediately.”