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Consumer Rights Advocate, Kofi Kapito, wants multi-sectoral regulator, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to substantiate its claim that Ghanaian consumers are willing to pay nearly 75% more for power if the current load shedding improves.

Communications Director for the PURC, Nana Yaa Jantuah recently denied reports that residents in most of the regions in the country have rejected any planned upward adjustments. 

Ghana Water Company Lim­ited (GWCL), Volta River Au­thority (VRA), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) arc seeking tariff in­creases that amount to over 200%.

GWCL is seeking 124% increase in its tariff from Ȼ1.78 for 120 gallons of water (5 barrels) to Ȼ4 for 120 gallons of water.

When the increases being sought by ECG, VRA and GRIDCo are computed together; it will increase electricity tar­iff from 44,50 -pesewas per kWh to 102-99 pesewas per kWh, representing over 100% increase in tariff.

For electricity, ECG is seeking 101% increase; VRA wants 108% in­crease while GRIDCo seeks 31.26%, and if the three are computed it will re­sult in over 100% increase in electric­ity tariff.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is still scrutinising the proposals and is yet to determine what in­creases the utility providers deserve.

“We have done all the regions and its left with Greater Accra and we are during 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...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,” she told Adabraka-based CitiFM.

But Kofi Kapito says PURC claims should be rubbished.

“All the regions are against their [PURC] proposal so I don’t know where they claim Ghanaians are willing to pay new tariffs. Who is willing to pay for extra cost on power in Ghana now? Even President Mahama won’t pay,” he said. 

In an interview with Kwasi Aboagye on NEAT FM’s morning show Ghana Montie, Kapito dismissed reports that residents in most of the regions in the country have agreed any planned upward adjustments on power.

“What the people are saying is that, if there is no interruption of power, then they will consider paying not in this power crisis. No one wants increment,” he explained.

To him, the PURC set up as part of the utility sector reform process to regulate the provision of utility services in the electricity and water sectors, has no business impressing on consumers the need to pay more electricity bills in the midst of the unreasonable power interruptions.

He also wondered why the utility providers are not keen on collecting debts owed them by public institutions and some individuals in order to strengthen their finances, but are rather only interested in charging more for their poor services. 

The CPA boss stressed that the tariff increment proposal forms part of measures to transfer debts owed by government onto the consumer – “We won’t allow that,” he vowed.