Ghanaian consumers will face higher electricity and water bills from July 1, 2026, following the approval of new utility tariffs by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for the third quarter of the year.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 22, the Commission announced a 3.49 per cent increase in electricity tariffs across all customer categories and a 0.85 per cent rise in water tariffs.
The adjustments are part of PURC’s quarterly tariff review mechanism, which takes into account changes in major operational variables affecting utility providers.
According to the Commission, the review factored in movements in the cedi-dollar exchange rate, domestic inflation, the electricity generation mix and the cost of natural gas used by thermal plants.
PURC said the periodic reviews are aimed at preserving the real value of tariffs to ensure utility providers remain financially sustainable while maintaining reliable service delivery.
For the third quarter, the Commission applied a weighted average exchange rate of GH¢11.2228 to the US dollar, reflecting a 0.2 per cent depreciation of the cedi compared to the previous quarter.
The review also used a three-month average inflation rate of 3.43 per cent, lower than the 4.17 per cent recorded in the second quarter. In addition, the weighted average cost of natural gas fell by 1.58 per cent to US$7.9708 per MMBtu, while the hydro-thermal generation mix remained unchanged at 20.9 per cent hydro and 79.1 per cent thermal.
Under the new rates, the lifeline electricity tariff for residential consumers using up to 30 kilowatt-hours per month has increased from 86.9Gp per kilowatt-hour to 89.93Gp per kilowatt-hour.
Similarly, the residential lifeline water tariff for consumption of up to five cubic metres has been revised upward from 593.49Gp per cubic metre to 598.54Gp per cubic metre. Service charges for all categories of consumers remain unchanged.
The Commission said it would continue to monitor regulated utility providers and ensure compliance with established standards to guarantee value for money and improved service quality. The revised tariffs will be published in the Gazette and on the Commission’s website in due course.
