The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) of Ghana has decided to maintain electricity and water tariffs at their current levels for the fourth quarter of 2026. This decision was made following a quarterly review of utility tariffs to account for changes in key economic and operational factors. The review considered several factors, including the Ghana cedi-US dollar exchange rate, inflation, the cost of natural gas, and the electricity generation mix.
According to the PURC, the Ghana cedi depreciated by 3.04 per cent against the US dollar, while the weighted average cost of gas declined by 1.67 per cent. The commission applied an average annual inflation rate of 4.97 per cent for the fourth quarter, which represents an increase of 44.89 per cent from the 3.43 per cent recorded in the previous quarter. These factors were taken into account when making the decision to keep tariffs unchanged.
The PURC also considered the projected hydro generation mix, which is expected to increase from 20.90 per cent to 24.25 per cent, while thermal generation would decline from 79.10 per cent to 75.75 per cent. The commission used a weighted average Ghana cedi-US dollar exchange rate of GH¢11.5646 to US$7.8379 per MMBtu, which represents a 1.67 per cent decline from US$7.9708 per MMBtu in the third quarter.
The combined impact of the hydro-thermal generation mix, exchange rate, inflation, and natural gas prices resulted in the PURC's decision to maintain electricity tariffs at their existing levels. The commission also maintained water tariffs at the third-quarter levels for the fourth quarter of 2026. The unchanged tariffs will take effect from October 1, 2026.
The PURC's quarterly tariff reviews are intended to account for changes in operational parameters beyond the control of utility service providers while ensuring their financial viability. The commission said it would continue to monitor the operations of regulated service providers and hold them accountable to regulatory standards and benchmarks to ensure value for money and improved quality of service delivery.
The PURC appreciates stakeholders' support for the implementation of the quarterly tariff reviews, which helps address changes in operational parameters beyond the control of utility providers. The commission urged regulated service providers to adhere to its regulatory standards and benchmarks to ensure value for money and improved quality of service delivery.
The decision to maintain utility tariffs at their current levels was announced by the Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr. Shafic Suleman, in a statement issued on September 24. The PURC's decision aims to balance the interests of both utility providers and consumers, ensuring that service providers have the resources to deliver reliable services while protecting consumers from unnecessary price increases.
Key points
- The PURC maintained electricity and water tariffs at 0 per cent adjustment for the fourth quarter of 2026.
- The unchanged tariffs will take effect from October 1, 2026.
- The PURC's quarterly reviews aim to account for changes in operational parameters and ensure the financial viability of utility service providers.
