Ghanaian households are set to face more financial strain after the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced an upward adjustment in electricity and water tariffs.
According to the PURC, consumers are set to pay more for utility services from July 1, 2026, with electricity tariffs increased by 3.49 per cent across the board, while water tariffs have been adjusted upward by 0.85 per cent.
The PURC disclosed that the adjustments were made in line with its mandate to undertake quarterly tariff reviews.
The Commission, the adjustments reflect changes in key economic indicators, including the cedi-to-dollar exchange rate, inflation, the electricity generation mix, and the cost of natural gas used in power generation.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 22, PURC explained that the quarterly adjustments are intended to maintain the real value of tariffs and ensure that utility providers deliver reliable services to consumers.
“The Commission applied a weighted average exchange rate of GHS11.2228 to one US dollar for the third quarter of 2026, representing a 0.2 per cent depreciation of the cedi compared to the previous quarter.
It also used a three-month average inflation rate of 3.43 per cent, down from 4.17 per cent in the second quarter, while the weighted average cost of natural gas declined by 1.58 per cent to USD7.9708 per MMBtu.
The hydro-thermal generation mix remained unchanged at 20.9 per cent hydro and 79.1 per cent thermal generation.
Based on the combined impact of these indicators, PURC approved a 3.49 per cent increase in electricity tariffs for residential, non-residential and special load tariff customers.
For residential consumers, the lifeline tariff for users consuming up to 30 kilowatt-hours monthly increased from 86.9Gp per kilowatt-hour to 89.93Gp per kilowatt-hour”, reports stated.
Also, Water tariffs were adjusted upward by 0.85 per cent across all customer categories.
“Under the revised rates, the residential lifeline tariff for water consumption of up to five cubic metres rose from 593.49Gp per cubic metre to 598.54Gp per cubic metre”.
In related news, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, has said that electricity and water tariffs have exposed the John Mahama government.
According to Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, Electricity and water tariffs have exposed the John Mahama government for doing nothing in government for the past 15 months.
The MP for Manhyia South highlighted that the Electricity and water tariffs have exposed the NDC government’s propaganda.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah stated, “ You have done the same propaganda for 15 months; today you are being exposed by electricity tariffs.
The electricity tariffs have exposed you that you are not done anything in 15 months in government. You have been exposed to water tariffs for the last 15 months, and you have not been doing anything in the government.
Mr Speaker, business owners are suffering because they cannot pay. Electricity tariffs, cocoa farmers are suffering because you are struggling to manage the cocoa sector. This is nothing other than propaganda. The government, so far, is governed by propaganda, or propaganda with propaganda and is full of garbage”.
See the statement below:
