Electricity and water consumers will benefit from tariff reductions starting April 1 this year, following the latest quarterly review by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
The review has lowered electricity tariffs by 4.81% and water tariffs by 3.06% for all customers in the second quarter of 2026.
For the first time, the commission also introduced a commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) charging tariff to encourage a transition to green energy.
In a statement signed by PURC Executive Secretary Dr. Shafic Suleman, issued yesterday, the commission explained that the adjustments are part of its mandate to review tariffs quarterly in line with market developments. “The quarterly reviews track and incorporate movements in key factors for which their variability affects the operations of utility service providers (USPs).
“These factors are the exchange rate between the Ghana cedi and the United States dollar, domestic inflation rate, electricity generation mix, and the cost of fuel — mainly natural gas — to power the thermal plants,” the statement said.
Maintaining real tariff value
The adjustments are aimed at preserving the real value of tariffs, ensuring that utility service providers remain financially viable while balancing the impact on consumers. “Having carefully analysed the aforementioned existing parameters, the commission wishes to announce a downward adjustment in electricity tariffs of an average reduction of 4.81 per cent and a 3.06 per cent reduction in water tariffs,” Dr. Suleman said.
Key factors considered
For the second quarter of 2026, the commission applied a projected weighted average cedi-dollar exchange rate of GH¢11.1931 to $1, based on a three-month interbank average from December 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026 — reflecting a 6.78% decrease from the previous quarter’s rate of GH¢12.0067.
The three-month average inflation rate was 4.17%, a 47.87% drop from the prior quarter. Meanwhile, the weighted average gas price was $8.0988 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu), a 2.84% increase from $7.8749/MMBtu. The projected hydro-thermal generation mix remained unchanged, with 20.9% from hydro and 79.1% from thermal sources, consistent with the 2025 Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO).
The statement concluded by expressing gratitude to stakeholders and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to monitoring utility operations. “The commission will continue to monitor operations of the regulated service providers and to hold them accountable to its regulatory standards and benchmarks to ensure value for money and improved quality of service delivery,” it added.
