Households and businesses will get a small break on their utility bills from April, after the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission announced a reduction in electricity and water tariffs for the second quarter of 2026.
In a statement issued on March 13, the regulator said electricity tariffs will fall by an average of 4.81%, while water tariffs will decline by 3.06% starting April 1.
The commission explained that the adjustment is part of its quarterly tariff review mechanism, which allows it to update utility prices in response to shifts in key economic indicators that influence the cost of providing electricity and water services.
Stronger cedi influences tariff review
According to the commission, one of the major factors behind the tariff reduction is the relative strengthening of the Ghanaian cedi against the United States dollar during the review period.
For the latest calculations, the regulator applied a projected exchange rate of GH¢11.1931 to the dollar, based on the three-month interbank average recorded between December 2025 and February 2026. This represents a 6.78% decline compared with the exchange rate used in the previous quarter’s review.
Lower inflation expectations also contributed to the tariff adjustment. The commission applied a three-month average inflation rate of 4.17%, reflecting a notable moderation compared with earlier assumptions.
Gas costs edge higher
Despite the decline in tariffs, some cost components moved upward during the review period. The weighted average cost of natural gas used in electricity generation increased slightly to $8.0988 per MMBtu, representing a 2.84% rise from the previous benchmark.
The regulator also noted that Ghana’s electricity generation mix remains largely unchanged, with 20.9% expected to come from hydro sources and 79.1% from thermal power plants.
New tariff category for EV charging
As part of the adjustments, the commission approved tariff reductions across several electricity customer categories, including residential, non-residential and special load tariff consumers.
The regulator also introduced a new tariff category for commercial electric vehicle charging stations, a move aimed at supporting Ghana’s transition toward cleaner energy systems and sustainable transportation.
For households and businesses, the new tariff adjustments would mean modest but noticeable relief in monthly utility bills. While the reductions may not translate into large savings individually, they signal improving macroeconomic conditions, especially in terms of exchange rate stability and moderating inflation.
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