ACCRA, Ghana — The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced an upward review of electricity and water tariffs, with new rates set to take effect May 3.
Electricity tariffs will rise by an average of 14.75%, while water tariffs will go up by 4.02%, following the Commission’s quarterly review for the first and second quarters of 2025.
In a statement released Thursday, PURC said the adjustments aim to stabilize revenue for utility providers while minimizing the impact on consumers.
The review considered several factors, including the cedi-to-dollar exchange rate, inflation, fuel costs, particularly natural gas and Ghana’s current hydro-thermal power generation mix.
The Commission said a key driver of the increase was the need to recover 50% of an outstanding GHS976 million owed from previous tariff periods in 2024. The remaining half will be recovered gradually over subsequent quarters.
“The upward adjustment reflects the impact of macroeconomic conditions on utility operations,” PURC said, adding that failing to address under-recoveries could compromise the delivery of essential services.
The Commission used a weighted average exchange rate of GHS15.6974 to the U.S. dollar and a weighted average cost of gas (WACoG) of $7.6289/MMBtu in its calculations. Both figures reflect changing economic conditions compared to the previous review period.
Despite the hikes, the PURC emphasized that it continues to prioritize protecting consumers while ensuring utility companies are adequately capitalized to keep essential services running.
Full details of the new tariffs will be published in the government gazette and made available on the Commission’s website.
