The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has fiercely rejected the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s (PURC) latest announcement of higher utility tariffs—a 9.86% increase in electricity and a 15.92% rise in water—set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

The union says it will not accept the hikes unless government returns to renegotiate the 9% wage adjustment for 2026. Without that, the TUC warns it will mobilise workers across the country to resist what it calls unfair and burdensome increases.

In a statement signed by Secretary-General Joshua Ansah on Wednesday, December 3, the TUC declared:

“Workers cannot accept these increases unless the government comes back to the negotiating table to top up the wage increase for 2026. Anything short of that, the TUC will mobilise workers to resist the implementation of these insensitive increases in utility prices.”

The union described the tariff adjustments as an unpleasant “New Year’s gift,” noting that they follow closely after the recently approved 9% increase in the national minimum wage and base pay.

It argued that the new utility prices will wipe out the already-contested wage increment, pointing out that workers have rejected the 9% raise as inadequate amid rising living costs.

The TUC also recalled that electricity tariffs went up by more than 18% in 2025, despite a 10% wage increase that year.

According to the union, the new tariff hikes reflect “government’s insensitivity” to the financial strain facing workers and ordinary households, effectively cancelling out any expected relief from the 2026 wage adjustment.

The TUC has scheduled a press conference for Monday, December 8, 2025, to announce its next line of action in response to what it describes as “obnoxious” utility price increases.

The PURC announced the adjustments on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, as part of its multi-year tariff review for 2026 to 2030. Under the new structure, electricity tariffs will rise by 9.86% across all categories, while water tariffs will go up by 15.92% over the same period.

The Commission says the increases are necessary to meet the investment needs of utilities, maintain efficiency, and protect consumer interests.