The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has been urged to adopt a more transparent pricing framework similar to that used by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to improve public confidence in electricity and water tariff decisions.
Energy analyst Benjamin Nsiah made the call following PURC’s recent announcement of a 3.49% increase in electricity tariffs and a 0.85% increase in water tariffs for the third quarter of 2026.
Mr Nsiah argued that the current tariff-setting process lacks sufficient transparency, making it difficult for consumers and stakeholders to assess whether adjustments reflect actual market conditions and fair costs.
He said PURC does not provide enough details on key factors used in determining tariffs, including the specific weightings of exchange rates, inflation, generation mix and the weighted average cost of gas (WACOG) in electricity pricing.
According to him, the approach differs from that of the NPA, which regularly publishes detailed pricing guidelines showing the benchmarks, conversion factors and formulas used in calculating petroleum product prices.
He noted that the NPA’s system allows consumers and industry players to understand the factors influencing price changes and independently assess the fairness of adjustments.
Mr Nsiah called on PURC to publish a comprehensive framework outlining the indicators and weightings used in its tariff reviews.
He said such disclosures would help reduce perceptions of arbitrary pricing decisions and allow both utility providers and consumers to anticipate possible changes based on clear economic factors.
“PURC should disclose its equivalent technical parameters,” he said, adding that publishing information on exchange rate movements, inflation, gas costs and other key variables would strengthen accountability.
He further argued that transparency should become a permanent regulatory practice rather than occasional communication, saying consistent disclosure would promote trust and ensure that tariff decisions are based on measurable market realities.
Mr Nsiah concluded that adopting a model similar to the NPA’s pricing system would strengthen PURC’s credibility and support a fairer tariff review process for consumers and service providers.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
