President Akufo-Addo Commends PURC For Electricity Tariff Reduction
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo, has commended the Public Utilities Regulatory for reducing
electricity tariffs for residential, non-residential, mines and special
load tariff customers, effective 1st April, 2018.
According to President Akufo-Addo, towards reducing
electricity tariffs, government, as set out in this year’s Adwumapa
budget, Government proposed a review of the tariff setting methodology
and cost structure of our energy production.
This, the President said, resulted in the proposed reduction of electricity tariffs.
“Happily, the PURC has taken forward the proposal of
Government to make it effective. Residential customers, as from
1st April, are now enjoying a 17.5% reduction; non-residential customers
have seen their electricity bills cut by 30%; the mines are now
entitled to a 10% reduction; whilst special load tariff customers are
also enjoying a 25% reduction,” he said.
The President continued, “It is important, in the
view of government, that we bring relief to the Ghanaian consumer and
industry.”
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Wednesday,
4th April, 2018, at the Jubilee House, when he swore into office two
members of the Board of the PURC.
The President noted that, since its inception, the
PURC, through the development of regulations, tariff setting guidelines,
establishment of monitoring systems and, arguably, a transparent and
independent tariff setting process, has contributed positively to the
promotion and sustainability of competition, evident in the introduction
of private sector investments in the utilities.
Through this, he indicated that, the country has seen a marked improvement in accessibility to utility services.
“However, one of the most notable functions as seen
by most Ghanaians to be effectively discharged by the PURC has to do
with the review of utility tariffs most often than not in an upward
manner,” he said.
The President continued, “It would appear that the
other functions, primarily to do with the protection of the interests of
the consumer and the delivery of quality service by utility providers,
have been largely shirked by the PURC. This perception can no longer be
allowed to fester. It must change.”
The President, in accordance with Act 538, noted that
the Ghanaian people demand that the PURC protect their interests as
well.
“In consonance with Section 13 of the Act, I urge you
to ensure that, where a public utility provider fails to meet any
required standard of performance, it is appropriately and duly
sanctioned.
The board has a duty to contribute to the development
of a competitive energy sector, to drive the industrial and economic
development of our country and at the same time, ensure that the
ordinary Ghanaian has access to efficient, affordable energy,” the
President added.
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