Prices of electricity in the country is expected to go up in April this year. This follows proposals submitted to the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) by the Volta River Authority for approval. Speaking to Joy News, the Public Relations Officer of VRA, Getrude Koomson said her outfit is unable to meet its production cost due to the highly subsidized rate at which the utility is being sold to consumers. This she said has made it difficult for the VRA to raise the necessary funds for the continued production of electricity in the country. “The other issue which we are raising with the PURC is economic tariffs. We don’t have economic tariffs so we are not able to use whatever income we are getting to raise our own letters of Credit (LC). We have to fall on the government and banks to raise promissory notes,” she explained to Joy News. "Over the years we have had to contend with tariffs that are below the cost of production and so we are trying to see how we can come up to see that the losses are minimal," she added. It is not clear, however, if the PURC will approve the hikes and at what percentage. Even before that decision is made, consumers are vehemently opposed to any idea of price increases. A cross section of the consumers in Accra who spoke to Joy News expressed their reservations about the increases. “There is no need for them to increase their tariffs because their service is very poor. They should at least raise the level of their service. Two days now I have not worked but I have to pay bills. “…If there is a way I would have sued them. It is about time somebody stands up to sue such corporations,” one of the consumers said. "Their work is not very effective, because every time the light goes off and it comes on, it is not stable. So we can’t really count on them that as they are increasing the prices we are going to get quality service,” another lady said. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana