By: Mabel Annang
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced a reduction in electricity and water tariffs for the second quarter of 2026. The new rates are set to take effect from April 1, 2026.
In a statement announcing its quarterly tariff review decision, the Commission said electricity tariffs will be reduced by an average of 4.81%, while water tariffs will go down by 3.06%.
PURC explained that the review forms part of its quarterly mandate to adjust tariffs in line with developments in key economic indicators that influence the operations of utility service providers.
According to the Commission, the tariff adjustments were influenced by changes in factors including the Ghana cedi to US dollar exchange rate, inflation, the cost of natural gas used in power generation, and the electricity generation mix between hydro and thermal sources.
The Commission projected a weighted average exchange rate of GHS11.1931 to one US dollar for the second quarter of 2026. This represents a 6.78 percent decrease from the previous quarter’s rate of GHS12.0067 to the dollar.
The PURC also used a three-month average inflation rate of 4.17 percent, covering the period between December 2025 and February 2026, which reflects a significant drop compared to the previous quarter.
However, the Weighted Average Cost of Gas (WACOG) used in electricity generation increased slightly to 8.0988 US dollars per MMBtu, up by 2.84 percent from the previous cost of 7.8749 US dollars per MMBtu.
Meanwhile, the electricity generation mix remains unchanged at 20.9 percent hydro and 79.1 percent thermal generation, consistent with assumptions under the 2025 Multi-Year Tariff Order.
The PURC noted that the quarterly adjustments are necessary to maintain the real value of tariffs while ensuring that utility service providers remain financially viable to deliver reliable electricity and water services.
The Commission also announced the introduction of a commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) charging tariff, the first of its kind in the country, as part of efforts to support Ghana’s green energy transition.
The revised tariffs will take effect nationwide beginning April 1, 2026.
