TheCable

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) of Ghana has announced a decrease in existing tariffs for residential and non-residential electricity consumers.

The electricity regulator announced in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the new tariffs would take effect from April 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024.

“There will be no change in the electricity of lifeline consumers (0-30KWh) as well as for residential consumers within the consumption bracket of 0-300kWh,” PURC said.

“There will, however, be an average reduction in electricity tariffs of 6.5% for residential consumers within the consumption bracket of 301kWh and above.

“Tariffs within the 0-300kWh for non-residential class of consumers remains the same with no change in their rates.”

However, PURC said tariffs within 301 kilowatts per hour (kWh) and above for the non-residential class would be reduced by an average of 4.98 percent.

Also, the commission reduced the residential tariff bands from four to three and the non-residential tariff bands class to two bands.

“This is to allow for ease of implementation of the approved tariffs, ease of interpretation to customers and in the long run make the meters affordable to consumers,” PURC said. 

“Industrial band has been reduced to reward the productive use of electricity. Under the Special Load Tariff, Low Voltage (SLT-LV) consumers will experience a reduction of 4.88% in their electricity tariffs.

“The Commission has also merged the high voltage, medium voltage and steel companies into one band with all classes now paying Ghs 1.5252/kWh leading to a 4.72% point reduction in the tariff of the high voltage consumers.”

“Customers in the 0-300kWh consumption will experience no change while, customers who consume over 300kWh will experience a tariff reduction of 4.98%,” PURC said. 

The commission said the reviews were conducted to maintain the true value of the tariffs, to keep energy service providers financially viable and to allow them to deliver their services to customers.