The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has denied claims that it will apportion for itself a significant percentage of the increase in utility tariffs set to be announced before the end of the year.

The Commission had been accused by some civil society groups of defending utility companies and secretly backing the proposed 100% increase in tariffs.

However, Public Affairs Manager of the Commission, Nana Yaa Jantuah, says the allegations are false.

“I don’t know where this is coming from and everybody is saying because of that we increase tariffs. Do we have to increase tariffs before we get a percentage? It is a necessity. So many things come into play with these tariffs,” she said.

She said power tariff increases for instance are influenced by exchange rates and the generation mix but not what benefits the PURC would get.

According to her, Ghana's generation mix, where 70% of power is generated by thermal plants and 30% by hydro. "Thermal power generation is very expensive," she notes.

She said due to the worsening power supply situation, the Commission is uncertain when the new tariffs would be announced.