It has emerged that electricity consumers across the country are paying far more  than announced by the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission (PURC).

The Regulators announced a 59.2% increase in electricity last year December as part of an automatic adjustment policy.

However the government slapped an Energy Sector Levy on petroleum products which apparently has affected not only the prices of petroleum products but also the prices of electricity.

Joy News intercepted a letter written by PURC to the ECG and its allied agencies asking them to increase electricity prices.

"We refer to the Energy Sector Levies Act 2015 (Act 899) which was passed by Parliament and assented by the president of the Republic on December 24, 2015.

"In accordance with the first schedule of the Act, you are required to implement the following levies charged on electricity consumption by all categories of consumers," the letter said.

As a result of this instruction the prices of electricity has increased by more than 70% instead of the 59% announced by the PURC.

Many Ghanaians have been complaining about the high cost of electricity in recent times.

With the increases, the electricity consumers say the same amount of electricity credit which lasts for a month, barely lasts for a week, a development they say has made life unbearable for them.

Checks by Joy News showed the high cost of electricity is as a result of the Energy Sector Levy imposed by government, an information the ECG has admitted.

"The PURC wrote to us referring to the Energy Sector Levy ACT 2015 which has been passed by Parliament. What it means is that there is a 10 per cent increase as a result of the ACT passed by Parliament.

"With that enactment by Parliament we are being directed, the effective date of implementation is 1st January," Public Relations Manager of the ECG William Boateng said.

He denied assertions the percentage increase was more than 10 per cent.