Consumers across the country can breathe a sigh of relief as electricity and water tariffs are set to remain unchanged for the fourth quarter of the year.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) confirmed that the existing third-quarter charges will be maintained from October 1 through to the end of December 2026, delivering a zero per cent adjustment for household and commercial users.
Explaining the decision on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s flagship afternoon news bulletin, Nyankonton Mu Nsem, the Head of Research at PURC, Dr Eric Obutey, revealed that the move comes after a comprehensive assessment of the macroeconomic environment.
“Our quarterly reviews are structured to strike a delicate balance. We must preserve the financial health of the utility providers so they can keep the lights on and the water flowing, but we must equally guard the pockets of the everyday consumer,” Dr Obutey stated on air. “Looking at the numbers for this final quarter, keeping the tariffs static was the most equitable decision for all parties.”
The regulatory body evaluated several critical economic indicators before arriving at the freeze, including domestic inflation figures, the energy generation mix, natural gas costs for thermal plants, and fluctuations in the foreign exchange market.
According to Dr Obutey, the Commission factored in a weighted average exchange rate of GH¢11.5646 to the US dollar to anchor its Q4 projections.
“We closely monitored the cost of fuel and the foreign exchange dynamics over the period. The current stability in those parameters allowed us to absorb potential cost pressures without shifting any added burden onto the public,” he added.
The decision means utility consumers will see no changes to their billing structures as the year draws to a close, providing much-needed stability for household budgets and local businesses entering the final quarter.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
