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Government
intervenes in electricity tariff increase to help less
affluent families
Accra, Dec. 07, Ghanadot/GNA - The Government on Friday
raised the lifeline threshold of electricity tariff from
zero to 50 to zero to 150 units to enable more families to
benefit from the subsidized rate.
A government statement signed for the Minister of
Information and National Orientation Ms. Oboshie Sai- Cofie
to the Ghana News Agency explained that the increased
lifeline ceiling was to cater for majority of Ghanaian
workers - nurses, teachers, and civil servants whose
consumption of electricity normally falls within the new
range of zero to 150 units.
The statement said Government was extremely anxious that
domestic consumers do not feel the full impact of the 35 per
cent electricity tariff increment announced by the Public
Utilities Regulatory Commission PURC last month.
Government explained that the subsidy that existed for
lifeline consumers has not been removed, therefore the 35
per cent increase is still applicable for lifeline
consumers, "the new tariff moved from 5.83 (GH) pesewas to
7.87 (GH) pesewas and not 12.00 (GH) pesewas as being banded
around."
The Government also called on all domestic consumers to be
conscious about conserving energy..."we should replace all
incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs, turn off lights when we
are not using them and put off all electric gadgets when not
in use."
The statement said government has procured six million CFL
bulbs which are currently being distributed free of charge
to all domestic consumer.
The usage of these bulbs according to Government would lead
to reduction of lights bills by as much as 50 percent.
The statement said government would soon initiate other
measures aimed at reducing electricity tariffs of domestic
users.
GNA
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