"CUTS International to File Injunction Against PURC Over 2.45% Electricity Tariff Hike"

CUTS International to File Injunction Against PURC Over 2.45% Electricity Tariff Hike

Consumer advocacy group, CUTS International, has revealed plans to seek a court injunction against the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) over its recent approval of electricity tariff increases, accusing the Commission of neglecting to enforce efficiency reforms at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

The legal action follows PURC’s announcement of a 2.45% upward adjustment in electricity tariffs for all customer categories, effective Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Water tariffs, however, remain unchanged.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News programme, West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako, criticised PURC for routinely approving tariff hikes without compelling ECG to address persistent technical and commercial losses within its operations.

“For us as an organisation, what we intend to do is go to court to also mandate PURC not to approve tariffs for ECG until ECG can address the inefficiencies in the energy sector. Already, we know that there are a lot of technical and commercial losses which are unacceptable,” Mr. Adomako stated.

He further accused the regulatory body of prioritising cost recovery through consumer tariffs over institutional accountability.

“PURC is unable to tell ECG to bring those losses down, but anytime PURC is looking at the low-hanging fruits, taxing you and me to pay, and that is where we can go to court to put further injunction on any tariff review,” he added.

CUTS International maintains that any future tariff adjustments must be tied to demonstrable progress in ECG’s operational efficiency and loss reduction efforts, rather than passing the cost burden onto consumers.