PURC assures consumers of balanced tariffs in multi-year review
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a fair and moderate tariff structure that balances the needs of utility providers with the economic realities faced by consumers.
Speaking at a public hearing on the 2025–2030 Multi-Year Tariff Review in Sunyani, Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr Shafic Suleman, assured stakeholders that the Commission would carefully assess proposals submitted by utility companies before arriving at any decisions.
“We are yet to analyse the proposals submitted by the utility companies, but I can assure you that our decisions will be guided by socio-economic conditions across the regions.
“Tariffs directly influence every facet of our economy, from agriculture and education to small-scale industries and household finances,” he noted.
Dr Suleman highlighted the particular impact on agriculture, where farmers rely heavily on electricity for mechanised processing and cold storage.
“When power becomes unstable or unaffordable, post-harvest losses increase, reducing farmers’ profits,” he explained.
Similarly, he said, rising water tariffs without commensurate improvements in supply create serious challenges for agro-industries and communities that depend on consistent access to water for daily operations.
Dr Suleman stressed the centrality of reliable and affordable utilities to national development. “Reliable utilities are not a luxury but a necessity for sustainable growth,” he said, highlighting that the Commission’s priority is to ensure service quality is matched by fair pricing.
Dr Suleman further emphasised that all public inputs would inform the final tariff order.
The Paramount Chief of the Sunyani Traditional Area, Odeefour Ogyeamansan Boahen Korkor II, called on utility agencies to improve customer communication, especially regarding service disruptions. He stressed the need for timely and respectful notification of outages, similar to practices in more developed countries.
The forum brought together a wide range of participants, including farmers, entrepreneurs, trade unions, utility providers and community representatives, to share their views on potential tariff adjustments.
Other participants expressed varied opinions on the tariff adjustment proposals.
Imam Seidu Yeboah, Vice-Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Techiman, advocated for increased investment in solar energy as a sustainable alternative. He also recommended that tariff adjustments be conducted twice annually, and at moderate rates.
Felicia Konlan, a nurse, called for a reduction in existing tariffs, describing them as too high. “They should come up with something moderate, and Ghanaians will be willing to pay,” she urged.
The PURC public hearing in Sunyani forms part of a nationwide stakeholder engagement process, which is expected to culminate in the issuance of a new multi-year tariff framework by the end of the review period.
