Some consumers of water are unhappy with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s (PURC) 15% increment in water tariffs.
The Commission cited what it described as the notable expansion in water infrastructure and considerable improvement in supply as reasons for the increase.
[contextly_sidebar id=”JXvEBNMyhvRMXpWWMAt4xzjfn5pkPlJg”]However the consumers who are displeased about the increment described the move as unjustifiable.
“We find it difficult to get the water, we find it difficult to pay so they have to reduce the price. We don’t have the money to afford that,” a consumer complained.
Another stated that the timing of the increment was poor.
“The PURC should not have increased water tariff by 15 percent. In this harsh economic conditions, how do you increase tariffs. I am a food vendor so it will definitely affect my operations because I will pay more for water which is not good especially at this time,” she said.
One other said : “It is not justified. We talk about this Automatic Adjustment and it only goes up and doesn’t come down. I think the government is being very lazy and lackadaisical and all they want to do is to pass everything down to the consumer.I have a very funny feeling this has to do with the IMF conditionality”
Another consumer who gave his name as only Emma said the incement was too high.
He appealed to the PURC to rather reduce it to 5 percent instead of resorting to the 15 percent.
52% increase in electricity deferred
In a related development PURC has deferred the 51.73% increment in electricity tariff which was supposed to have taken effect on July 1, 2015.
This was in a statement signed by the PURC’s Executive Secretary, Ing. Samuel Kwadwo Sarpong which also announced the increment in water tariff by 15% .
According to the PURC it “has decided to defer the increase for electricity due to the current electricity supply situation, but has decided to pass on the adjustment for Water because of the notable expansion in water infrastructure and considerable improvement in supply.”
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana