PURC to review electricity, water tariffs January 2026

By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced that a major review of electricity and water tariffs will take effect in January 2026 as part of its Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) framework.

The review is intended to align consumer tariffs with the long-term capital and operational needs of the country’s utility sector.

The MYTO provides a structured mechanism for predictable, periodic adjustments while giving utilities and investors regulatory certainty for planning.

It allows the PURC to revise rates based on macroeconomic trends, inflation, currency movements and sector performance indicators.

According to PURC officials, the upcoming review will place strong emphasis on recouping significant capital investments already made by electricity and water providers.

These investments include upgrades to transmission networks, expansion of water treatment facilities and integration of renewable energy sources.

The Commission has begun nationwide stakeholder consultations, holding its first public session in Accra earlier this month to discuss the 2025–2030 tariff framework.

PURC representatives say these meetings aim to build consensus with industry players, consumer groups and policymakers before finalising the new tariff structure.

Utility companies have for months pressed for notable tariff increases, arguing that current rates no longer cover the cost of operations, maintenance and debt servicing.

The January 2026 adjustment is therefore expected to be significant, though exact figures have not been disclosed.

PURC sources caution that the MYTO review is separate from the routine Quarterly Utility Tariff Adjustment, which reflects short-term market conditions such as inflation, cedi performance and global crude oil prices.

It remains uncertain whether the Commission will implement the next quarterly revision, scheduled for early next month, given the impending January overhaul.

The PURC is expected to release draft tariff proposals later this year, after which a final determination will set the stage for Ghana’s most comprehensive utility pricing reform in nearly a decade.