PURC Rejects New Power Tariff

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission has reportedly revoked the new tariff rates unilaterally announced by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) last week. The ECG’s new tariffs sparked intense public outcry.

This compelled the PURC, the regulatory agency, to begin negotiations with the utility companies and was scheduled to announce new rates by the close of Friday, November 7. The PURC was however unable to announce the new tariffs because the talks were deadlocked.

A PURC official explained that the additional tariff hikes were granted in March this year, in response to the full cost recovery scheme. But its application was suspended subject to review and on condition that the utility companies meet certain operational targets.

The talks reportedly failed because of a polarized stand taken by the PURC that forced a postponement until further consultations had taken place. According to a PURC official, “there is controversy surrounding the whole increase because of ECG’s rush to announce its own hike”.