The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has approved an 8.01 percent increment in water tariffs, effective July 2019. At a press conference, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Maame Dufie Ofori, said the depreciation of the cedi to the dollar, projected inflation rate and increasing electricity and water demands have necessitated the increment.

The PURC last Friday approved an 11.17% tariff increase for electricity from July 1. The PURC approved the increase after considering proposals from the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana Limited, the Northern Distribution Company (NEDCo) and Enclave Power Company Limited (EPC).

Tariff proposals for water also came from key stakeholders.

“In line with the commission’s regulatory oversight mandate, extensive technical and financial analysis of the proposals were undertaken,” Mrs. Ofori said.

“The key objective of the tariff review was to sustain the financial viability of the utility service providers as well as ensuring the delivery of quality service to consumers,” she explained.