ECG Pushes For Increase In Electricity Tariffs

The cost of electricity could increase if the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) succeeds in pushing through with plans to adjust its tariffs in the coming weeks. Mr. Noble Dorwume, a Director in the office of the Managing Director of the ECG, announced this in Tamale after a meeting with the Public Utility Regulatory Commission

(PURC) in Tamale. The PURC indicated that expected review will be based on the overhead cost which affects power generation and distribution, including inflation. Mr. Dorwume said the request is currently tabled with the PURC for consideration. We have given an upward review based on the cost, inflation, and other economic

parameters. Ghana’s inflation rate hit 15.7 percent in February, representing a 1.8 percent jump from January. Mr. Dorwume also noted that the tariff review would factor in the classification of customers. So it will also depend on how PURC also looks at it and which group

should have a slight upward adjustment and which one should have a downward review and will all give us revenue which will be able to help us run this business successfully. The last tariff increase was in October 2019, with a 5.94 percent increment. In August 2021, the Africa Centre for Energy Policy kicked against any possible increment also in electricity tariff, citing the

wastage within the state power company. This was after an audit report by the Auditor-General revealed that the Electricity Company of Ghana, between 2014 and 2016, procured prepaid meters and conductors worth GHS 59million that were not utilised. The report also noted that ECG incurred expenses of over a GHS 180 million as a capacity charge by Cenit Energy in 2018.