Electricity Tariffs Increase By 3.49%, Water By 0.85%, Effective July 1

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced an upward adjustment in electricity and water tariffs, with the new rates set to take effect from 1 July 2026.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission said electricity tariffs will increase by 3.49 per cent, while water tariffs will go up by 0.85 per cent under its third-quarter tariff review mechanism.

PURC said the quarterly review is intended to reflect changes in key economic and operational factors that affect utility service providers and to ensure the continued delivery of electricity and water services across the country.

According to the Commission, the review considered the exchange rate between the Ghana cedi and the United States dollar, inflation, the cost of natural gas used in power generation and the country’s electricity generation mix.

PURC applied a weighted average exchange rate of GH¢11.2228 to one US dollar for the third quarter of 2026. This represents a 0.2 per cent depreciation of the cedi compared with the second quarter exchange rate of GH¢11.1931 to one US dollar.

The Commission also used a three-month average inflation rate of 3.43 per cent, down from 4.17 per cent in the previous quarter. The weighted average cost of natural gas was pegged at US$7.9708 per MMBtu, representing a 1.58 per cent decrease from the previous quarter.

The electricity generation mix remained unchanged, with hydro generation accounting for 20.9 per cent and thermal generation making up 79.1 per cent of total power generation.

PURC said the adjustments are necessary to maintain the real value of existing tariffs and to keep utility service providers financially viable while ensuring reliable service delivery to consumers.

The Commission added that it had also taken into account the impact of the tariff increases on the wellbeing of consumers.

The latest increase follows a reduction in utility tariffs announced in March 2026, when electricity tariffs were cut by an average of 4.81 per cent and water tariffs by 3.06 per cent for the second quarter of the year.

PURC said it will continue to monitor the performance of utility service providers and ensure that consumers receive value for money as the new tariffs take effect from the beginning of the third quarter.