Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is gearing up for yet another major tariff review in September 2025, which could lead to potential changes in electricity and water prices. However, the Commission says it’s too early to predict the outcome, stressing that the review process will be grounded in a thorough analysis of utility providers’ capital and operational expenditure submissions.
According to Dr. Eric Obutey, Director of Research and Corporate Affairs at PURC, the upcoming review will differ from routine quarterly assessments by incorporating capital expenditures such as infrastructure investments into the evaluation, alongside operational costs like maintenance and fuel adjustments.
“Until utility companies submit their proposals and our team completes a full analysis, we cannot pre-empt whether tariffs will go up, down, or remain the same,” Dr. Obutey explained in an interview.
The announcement follows PURC’s recent upward adjustment of tariffs. Thus Electricity increased by 14.75% whiles Water tariffs rose by 4.02% for all categories of consumers.
These changes have drawn mixed reactions from the public, with many citing inconsistent service quality particularly intermittent power outages and irregular water supply as a reason for skepticism.
Dr. Obutey emphasized that equipment failure and unplanned outages are natural occurrences in utility operations and not necessarily indicative of mismanagement. He reiterated that PURC employs benchmarking and monitoring tools to hold providers accountable and ensure that any tariff adjustments are evidence-based, not arbitrary.
“Ghanaians should not automatically associate reviews with price hikes. There have been times when tariffs were reviewed downward. The process is entirely data-driven.” he added.
This review signals PURC’s intent to maintain a delicate balance between investor confidence in utility providers and consumer affordability, a critical consideration as Ghana navigates a fragile economic recovery amid IMF-supported reforms. The outcome could influence capital flows into the energy and water sectors, particularly from private investors seeking policy stability and cost-reflective returns.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) will conduct a major tariff review in September, considering both capital and operational expenditures. No decision on price changes has been made yet, as utility companies must submit cost justifications. Adjustments will depend on verified data and performance metrics.
Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is gearing up for a major tariff review in September 2025, which could lead to potential changes in electricity and water prices. However, the Commission says it’s too early to predict the outcome, stressing that the review process will be grounded in a thorough analysis of utility providers’ capital and operational expenditure submissions.
According to Dr. Eric Obutey, Director of Research and Corporate Affairs at PURC, the upcoming review will differ from routine quarterly assessments by incorporating capital expenditures such as infrastructure investments into the evaluation, alongside operational costs like maintenance and fuel adjustments.
“Until utility companies submit their proposals and our team completes a full analysis, we cannot pre-empt whether tariffs will go up, down, or remain the same,” Dr. Obutey explained in an interview.
The announcement follows PURC’s recent upward adjustment of tariffs. Thus Electricity increased by 14.75% whiles Water tariffs rose by 4.02% for all categories of consumers.
These changes have drawn mixed reactions from the public, with many citing inconsistent service quality particularly intermittent power outages and irregular water supply as a reason for skepticism.
Dr. Obutey emphasized that equipment failure and unplanned outages are natural occurrences in utility operations and not necessarily indicative of mismanagement. He reiterated that PURC employs benchmarking and monitoring tools to hold providers accountable and ensure that any tariff adjustments are evidence-based, not arbitrary.
“Ghanaians should not automatically associate reviews with price hikes. There have been times when tariffs were reviewed downward. The process is entirely data-driven.” he added.
This review signals PURC’s intent to maintain a delicate balance between investor confidence in utility providers and consumer affordability, a critical consideration as Ghana navigates a fragile economic recovery amid IMF-supported reforms. The outcome could influence capital flows into the energy and water sectors, particularly from private investors seeking policy stability and cost-reflective returns.
