The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has said that no decision has been reached yet with regard to increase in utility tariffs effective September 1.

According to PURC, any decision to increase the tariffs will be duly communicated.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, the Director of Research and Corporate Affairs of PURC, Dr Eric Obutey said, “To the best of my knowledge, PURC has not come out with any official communique so I really cannot speak to that issue.”

This comes in the wake of media reports of a purported upward adjustment in tariffs effective Thursday, September 1, 2022.

The report stated that the new tariffs will not be across the board, which means the rates will depend on the reasons and proofs adduced by the utilities and the verification the PURC has done.

Mr. Obutey emphasised that when the PURC makes a determination, it will be announced, “the decision has not been made as to whether or not there will be an upward or downward adjustment. Once that decision is arrived at it will be communicated by the Board of the PURC to us the Secretariat and we will effectively communicate to the public.”

He noted that in announcing any tariff increase, “we will look at the depreciation rate, the exchange rate, inflation rate. So many other factors, including the hearings that we held across the country.”

The ECG is demanding a 148% increase in tariff. A proposal from the power distributor, submitted to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), wants the adjustment to cover the period 2019 and 2022. It also proposed an average increase of 7.6% in tariff over the next four years to cover Distribution Service Charges (DSC).

The Ghana Water Company Limited is also demanding a 334% increase in tariff. The GWCL in its proposal said over the years, the approved tariffs have not been fully cost-reflective.

But consumers of water and electricity have asked the utility companies to significantly reduce the percentage they are demanding with regard to the upward adjustment in tariff.

The consumers said the increase in utility tariffs is too high.

According to the consumers, they do not agree that the increase in utility tariff is commensurate with the services rendered.