Ghanaian consumers began paying lower electricity and water bills on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, as the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) implemented its second quarter tariff reductions, offering measured relief after months of sustained utility cost increases.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced in March that electricity tariffs would fall by an average of 4.81 percent and water tariffs by 3.06 percent for the April to June quarter, with the cuts driven primarily by an appreciating Ghana cedi and significantly lower inflation.
Residential lifeline consumers using between zero and 30 kilowatt-hours per month will now pay 86.90 pesewas per kilowatt-hour, down from 88.37 pesewas, while households consuming up to 300 kilowatt-hours will pay 196.88 pesewas, reduced from 200.21 pesewas. Non-residential customers consuming 301 kilowatt-hours and above will pay 216.49 pesewas per kilowatt-hour, down from 224.64 pesewas.
High-voltage commercial and industrial customers will receive the steepest reductions, exceeding 15 percent, while water tariffs fall by a flat 3.06 percent across all categories, covering residential users, commercial operators, and sachet and bottled water producers.
The PURC attributed the reductions to a combination of improved economic indicators. The Commission applied a projected weighted average exchange rate of GHS11.1931 to the US dollar for the second quarter, based on the three-month interbank average between December 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026, reflecting a 6.78 percent improvement from the GHS12.0067 rate applied in the first quarter.
The Commission also used a three-month average inflation rate of 4.17 percent, representing a significant drop compared with the previous quarter, while the Weighted Average Cost of Gas rose marginally to USD8.0988 per MMBtu, partially moderating the scale of reductions.
The electricity generation mix remained unchanged at 20.90 percent from hydro sources and 79.10 percent from thermal generation, in line with the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) of 2025.
In a landmark move for Ghana’s green energy agenda, the PURC also introduced the country’s first commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) charging tariff, making Ghana among the first countries in West Africa to formally regulate commercial EV electricity pricing.
PURC Executive Secretary Dr. Shafic Suleman said the Commission would continue to monitor utility providers to ensure value for money and improved service delivery.
The April cuts come after electricity tariffs rose by 9.86 percent and water tariffs by 15.92 percent at the start of the year under the PURC’s 2026 to 2030 Multi-Year Tariff Order.
