Electricity And Water Tariffs Go Up 12 And 6.1 Percent

The Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission has increased water and electricity tariffs for the third quarter of the year.

The move, which according to the Commission was in line with the automatic adjustment formula, will see a 12 per cent increase in electricity and 6.1 per cent in water for the next quarter beginning July 2014.

The PURC had initially proposed a 31 per cent increase in electricity and 14 per cent in water at the management level but the commissioners after meeting Wednesday morning on the proposal decided to review it downward same as what was proposed for the second quarter.

The tariffs were proposed to go up 12 per cent for electricity and 6.1 per cent for water at the beginning of the second quarter in April 2014 but the PURC suspended the implementation due to poor service and load shedding.

Under the automatic adjustment formula the commissioners have the option to exercise the decision variable which empowers them to maintain the prevailing tariff or review it.

The commissioners after their meeting Wednesday in Accra therefore decided to review the proposed increment downward to the same level as what was proposed for the second quarter.

Earlier the Director of Public Affairs, Nana Yaa Jantuah, had asked consumers to expect an increment beginning July 2014.