PURC Confirms Utility Tariffs Will Soon Go Up

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has confirmed there would soon be an adjustment in utility tariffs. According to the Executive Secretary of the PURC, Steven Adu, even though no decision has yet been taken, �the variables that we are experiencing will appear that there could be some increases�. However, he told Joy News that signals they are getting from the formula being used to determine utility prices indicate that the changes would not be astronomical. �It is very, very unlikely we will be experiencing increases like 50 to 80 percent that we saw [in the past]. It�s not going to happen,� he assured. The new tariffs would be in line with the automatic adjustment formula. Mr Steven Adu said the Commission is still doing its review, analysis and consultation, and would announce the new tariffs as soon as those were done. Meanwhile some civil society organizations have kicked against the proposed adjustment, citing poor services being rendered by the utility providers. But Mr Adu said his outfit is finalizing mechanism to grade the service providers on whether they are performing as expected or not. The grading would also determine whether they qualify for tariff increment.