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The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has summoned the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) following widespread complaints from consumers about the unusually fast depletion of prepaid electricity units.
PURC’s Executive Secretary, Dr Shafic Suleman, has directed ECG’s Managing Director, along with senior officials from the company’s technical, commercial, ICT, and customer service departments, to attend an emergency meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 26.
In a formal letter sighted by Myjoyonline, the Commission said it had “taken note of widespread media reports and public complaints alleging rapid depletion of prepaid electricity units” following the January tariff adjustment under the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO).
Energy Ministry Intervenes
The Ministry of Energy has also stepped into the matter. On February 24, the sector minister, through his spokesperson Richmond Rockson, directed ECG to investigate the issue and submit a comprehensive report within seven days.
“The PURC, the Energy Commission, the Ministry, and all the agencies are working together to get to the bottom of the matter and resolve it fairly and impartially,” the statement noted.
ECG Denies Overbilling Allegations
ECG has, however, rejected claims of overbilling or unauthorized tariff implementation.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme, ECG’s Communications Director, William Boateng, maintained that the company strictly applies only tariffs approved by PURC.
“Whatever increment PURC gives us is what is captured in our system. We have not implemented anything beyond that,” Boateng said.
He attributed the perceived rapid depletion of units to increased electricity consumption, particularly due to hot weather conditions and the growing use of electrical appliances.
“When the heat increases, someone can even double the use of cooling appliances. That alone can affect your consumption,” he explained.
Tariff Adjustment and Inflation Pressures
On January 1, 2026, PURC implemented a 9.86% electricity tariff increase under the 2026–2030 MYTO framework. The adjustment is intended to support long-term investments in Ghana’s electricity infrastructure.
The tariff hike has coincided with rising inflation in electricity and gas, which increased from 6.1% year-on-year in December 2025 to 14.8% in January 2026.
What to Expect From the February 26 Meeting
The upcoming meeting is expected to:
- Clarify how the MYTO tariff adjustment was integrated into ECG’s prepaid metering system
- Review any changes to system parameters affecting billing
- Assess the scale and nature of consumer complaints
- Outline proposed resolution and corrective measures
Consumers and industry stakeholders will be watching closely as regulators and the power distributor work to address growing public concern over electricity costs.