Electricity tariff goes up by 11.7 percent

Electricity tariffs have been increased by 11.7 percent and will take effect consumers on July 1, 2019.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) approved the tariff increament after considering proposals from a number of stakeholders.

“In taking the above decisions, the commission received and considered tariff proposals from stakeholders including the following utility services providers in the electricity and water sectors; Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana Limited, Northern Distribution Company (NEDCo) and Enclave Power Company Limited (EPC).”

PURC said the key objective of the tariff review was to sustain the financial viability of utility service providers as well as ensuring the delivery of quality services to consumers.

“This 2019-2020 major Tariff Review Decision is the outcome of prudent cost review and effective monitoring undertaken by the commission.”

In addition, the PURC has eliminated the Maximum Demand Charge on industrial customers (Special Load Tariff-SLT Customers).

This is in line with a major policy shift aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Ghanaian industries.

It is expected that this policy will result in some 5LT customers experiencing savings in their overall electricity bills.

The Commission was expected to have announced new tariffs in February 2019 but deferred the decision to the end of the second quarter of 2019.