Ghana: Electricity, water tariffs remain unchanged from October 1

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has maintained the existing electricity and water tariffs for the fourth quarter of 2026, effective October 1.

The Commission said the tariffs would remain at their third-quarter levels following its quarterly review of key economic and operational variables affecting utility costs.

The review considered the Ghana cedi-US dollar exchange rate, domestic inflation, the electricity generation mix and the cost of natural gas used in power generation.

PURC applied a weighted average exchange rate of GH¢11.5646 to US$1 for the fourth quarter, representing a 3.04% depreciation of the cedi from the previous quarter’s rate of GH¢11.2228 to US$1.

The Commission also applied an average annual inflation rate of 4.97%, up from 3.43% in the third quarter.

However, the weighted average cost of natural gas declined by 1.67% to US$7.8379 per MMBtu from US$7.9708 per MMBtu in the third quarter.

PURC also projected an increase in hydroelectricity generation during the fourth quarter. The share of hydro generation is expected to rise from 20.90% in the third quarter to 24.25%, representing an increase of about 16.03%.

The projected share of thermal generation, meanwhile, is expected to decline from 79.10% to 75.75%, a reduction of about 4.24%.

The Commission said its quarterly tariff reviews are intended to reflect changes in economic conditions while balancing the financial sustainability of utility providers with the impact of tariffs on consumers.

The unchanged tariffs mean electricity and water consumers will continue to pay the existing rates during the fourth quarter, beginning October 1, 2026.