The Director of Research and Corporate Affairs at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Dr. Eric Obutey, has stated that utility tariffs could experience a reduction if the Ghanaian cedi maintains its current strength against the US dollar over the next three months.
In a conversation with JoyNews, Dr. Obutey elaborated on the factors influencing the PURC’s quarterly tariff reviews, highlighting key elements such as inflation, fuel price variations, and the exchange rate.
“PURC is not only there for price adjustments. We are also there for the quality of service as well. We look at both the quality of service and the pricing of the commodity,” he said.
Dr. Obutey’s remarks followed the recent strengthening of the cedi against the dollar, prompting public speculation about whether this trend could lead to a reduction in utility tariffs. These tariffs had been increased during the Commission’s quarterly review for the first and second quarters of 2025.
“If the cedi is appreciating against the dollar, it means it will impact the next tariff window. At the end of this current window, we will take into consideration all those varying factors that will impact the tariff in the next tariff window,” Dr. Obutey explained.
He also emphasised that the Commission’s tariff review process is data-driven and takes place every three months.
“We look at the exchange rate over the three-month period and make the adjustment based on the review. So, if we observe a consistent appreciation of the cedi during that period, it will certainly have a downward impact on the tariffs,” he concluded.
