The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has called on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to halt its planned increases in utility tariffs until essential consultative committees are reestablished and extensive consumer consultations are conducted. This plea follows PURC’s recent announcement of a 14.75% increase in electricity tariffs and a 4.02% increase in water tariffs, set to take effect on May 2, 2025.
Nana Prempeh Okogyeabour Aduhene, the CPA’s Director of Mediation and Arbitration, released a statement expressing concerns about the perceived lack of consumer consultation prior to the approval of these tariff increases. The statement emphasized the urgent need for the PURC to reestablish key committees to facilitate adequate consultation processes, ensuring consumer acceptance of any tariff changes.
The CPA highlighted the critical role of the PURC’s Technical and External Committees, which have reportedly not been reconstituted since the recent change in government. The Technical Committee is charged with assessing utility tariff applications, including aspects such as methodology, structure, and performance benchmarking. Meanwhile, the External Committee, as defined in Part 3, Section 31 of the PURC Act 1997 (Act 538), acts as a regional liaison among the Commission, utility providers, and consumers, providing valuable feedback on service quality and addressing consumer concerns.
The CPA stressed the importance of these committees in promoting transparency and ensuring that consumer interests are adequately represented in regulatory decisions. The agency criticized the PURC for insufficient consultation and inadequate representation of consumer interests and urged that unresolved consumer complaints about electricity and water services be addressed before implementing any tariff changes.
According to the CPA, the PURC’s mandate includes ensuring reliable access to continuous power and water services, underscoring the need to prioritize consumer interests.
Source: https://www.ghanaweb.com/
