By: Mabel Adorkor Annang
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, PURC has begun its investment hearing with key utility providers as part of preparations for a major multi-year tariff review for the next three years.
Addressing the media during the hearing in Accra, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Shafic Suleman, said the process is intended to help the Commission scrutinize proposed infrastructure investments in the power and water sectors to ensure that excessive spending by the Utilities does not burden consumers.
He disclosed that the major tariff adjustment is expected by the end of the year.
The investment hearing forms part of the broader multi-year tariff review process for the 2025-2028 period. It includes extensive stakeholder consultations aimed at making the process more transparent, inclusive, and participatory.
PURC will engage various stakeholders including ministries, utility companies, civil society organizations and the general public.
Dr. Suleman, emphasized that the Commission will evaluate the proposals by considering factors such as operating costs, capital expenditure, and the need to ensure a fair return on capital for utilities while protecting the interests of consumers.
Dr. Suleman said, ” the Commission listens to this investment, assesses the most critical parts important to the consumer and the utility sector, and then logs that in as the foundation to do the quarterly tariff review. We had a template for them to follow. However, most of the previous presentations were not in sync with the template. We re-engaged them on how best to go by the template. That was the major infraction from the beginning but most of them have re-sent their well populated templates which is now in order. It is now time for them to make the presentations so we see their investments “.
The Acting Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority, VRA, Mr Edward Obeng Kenzo, outlined some of the investments the Authority has submitted for PURC’s review.
He said, “beyond what we are discussing today, we are bringing up a lot of investments. It has to do with the life extension of the Aboadze power plant which is about 25 years. We are returning Aboadze for another 20 years. We have done the first phase and we are going to do the second phase. We are doing a bit of retro-fitting of Akosombo, using technology to make it smarter. We are also going to improve Akuse with some of the runners to make sure the machines can also run. We are also going to do some investments at Kpong as well”.
Other utility service providers expected to make their presentations include the Ghana Grid Company, GRIDCo, Volta River Authority, VRA, Electricity Company of Ghana, ECG, Northern Electricity Distribution Company, NEDCo, Ghana Gas, Enclave Power Ghana and the Ghana Water Company.
