Ghanaians want to pay 75% more for power -PURC

Ghanaians are prepared to pay close to 75% more for power if the current load shedding improves.

This is according to the Communications Director of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Nana Yaa Jantuah.

The various Utility companies including the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Volta River Authority (VRA), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) are looking for a more than 200% increment on tariffs.

There is a huge debate over the proposed tariff increments tabled by all the utility companies.

But Nana Yaa Jantuah has denied reports that most regions visited by the PURC as part of its consultation with stakeholders on the proposed major tariff increments rejected any planned upward adjustments.

“We have done all the regions and it’s left with Greater Accra, and we are doing Greater Accra on Wednesday; so far what everybody is saying is that if the load shedding situation improves then certainly they are prepared to pay more,” she said.

The Acting Managing Director of ECG, Robert Dwamena, has defended its proposal for tariff increases and is confident it will ensure increased investments in the power sector.

The Ministry of Power has already hinted it might back the utility companies on the planned major tariff increments.

In an interview with Citi Business News, Nana Yaa Jantuah said the commission will complete the stakeholder consultation before the close of the week with their last meeting in Accra.

She revealed, “people don’t mind paying more because they are saying they are paying 6% more because of the load shedding through other alternative sources of power, …some people are saying they don’t mind 50%, others are saying 75%, so we are taking all these issues on board, and it will form a major basis for a final decision by the commission.”