Boakye Agyarko: Energy Minister defends decision to review power tariffs

The Finance Minister notes that proposal has been made to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for electricity tariffs to be reduced between 13 and 21 percent for households and industries but some experts and the NDC are questioning the move.

The Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko, has defended government decision to review downwards electricity tariffs as announced by the Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, during last Wednesday’s budget reading.

The Finance Minister had noted that proposals had been made to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for electricity tariffs to be reduced between 13 and 21 percent for households and industries.

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However, the proposal has come under attack from some energy experts and the Minority National Democratic Congress, who say the government is interfering in the work of the PURC.

In a meeting with journalists, Mr Agyarko said government did no wrong by asking the PURC to consider reducing electricity tariffs.

He said: “We have made recommendations to the PURC seeking their approval, so I don’t understand the hullabaloo.

“If we as a government, see benefits that could accrue and inure to the benefit of our citizens, it would be irresponsible on our part not to go to PURC for them to approve those benefits so that our citizens can get cheaper electricity.

“I don’t see anything wrong with it. We have not declared a reduction.

“We have gone to PURC to seek their approval, but there’s nothing wrong with us telling the nation what we have done.”

According to him, despite the government’s proposal, it is up to the PURC to approve it or reject it.

He stressed that the government is not dictating to the PURC, adding that it was only a request being made to the utilities regulator.

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“It’s up to the PURC to approve it or not. You send things to PURC to examine and review. We’ve not told PURC what to do, we’ve made a request,” he said.

According to him, “It’s semantics, if we have a problem with the English language, let us say so. All we have done is send a request to PURC for their examination and approval.

“Should we have gone to PURC and just said reduce the tariffs? It would have been grossly irresponsible to go to PURC without numbers and ask them to approve it,” he said.

The Finance Minister notes that proposal has been made to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for electricity tariffs to be reduced between 13 and 21 percent for households and industries but some experts and the NDC are questioning the move. Read Full Story