The Industrial and Commercial workers Union (ICU) has described as outrageous the new utility tariffs which are expected to take effect from December 14, 2015.

ICU General Secretary, Solomon Kotei, told Adom FM’s Morning Show ‘Dwaso Nsem’ Tuesday the Union was expecting a smaller percentage increase.

The Public Utility and Regulatory Commission Monday announced hikes in electricity and water tariffs.

Electricity has been increased by 59.2 percent while water has been adjusted by 67.2 percent.

Director of Public Relations and External Affairs of PURC, Nana Yaa Jantuah who revealed this said the factors that influenced the increment are, consumer interest, investor interest, economic development of the country, generation mix, fuel mix, availability of the service, growth in demand, power purchase cost (IPP), cedi-to-dollar exchange rate and revenue requirements.

Solomon Kotei believes the increment would rather worsen the plight of Ghanaians who are already reeling under the current energy crisis.

“Prior to the increment, we had a meeting with the PURC and after deliberation, the PURC informed us that they will get back to us; only to hear in the media that they have increased the utility prices without our knowledge. In fact, it is too high” he noted.

He said the union will have an emergency meeting to decide their next action.