The Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Dr Shaffic Suleman, has revealed that electricity consumption in Ghana has exceeded the Commission’s projections.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Dr Suleman explained that PURC’s annual projection anticipates an 8% growth in consumption.

However, improved supply reliability and increased economic activity have driven demand far beyond this benchmark.

“We are now consuming more power beyond what has been projected,” the PURC boss stated.

“We are looking at an annual projection of 8% per annum, but I can assure you that we are moving far faster than that,” he added.

While the surge in electricity use reflects stronger economic activity, it comes at a time when many Ghanaians are voicing frustration over rising utility costs.

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Electricity tariffs increased by 9.86% and water tariffs by 15.92% from January 1, 2026, sparking widespread complaints about the cost of living.

Adding to the discontent, a recent report by the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) stated that consumers may have overpaid an estimated GH¢1.5 billion in the last quarter of 2025 due to inflated assumptions in tariff-setting.

The report called for an 11% reduction in electricity tariffs to correct what it described as a “significant over-recovery” from consumers.

SA/MA