CPA threatens legal action to demand favorable tariff prices

Consumer Protection Agency is calling on the Public Utility Regulatory commission (PURC) to announce a favorable adjustment of utility prices in the interest of consumers in its second quarter announcement for 2023.

The PURC on 1st February increased utility tariffs for water and electricity by 29.96 percent and 8.3 percent respectively.

The CPA maintains that the Public Regulator appears to have taken a one sided approach which does not favour the consumer.

Addressing a press conference in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of Consumer Protection Agency, Kofi Kapito said the CPA will not hesitate to take legal action against PURC to give consumers equal attention given to the utility providers.

“The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act, 1997 (Act 538) mandates the PURC to protect the interest of consumers at all times which unfortunately has fallen short of expectations,” he said.

“Though PURC supports the utilities service providers in price adjustment they do not offer the same effort when consumers demand better services from the utility service providers which in most times fall short of expectations. We are therefore calling on the PURC to use the same strength in announcing tariff increases in making sure that the service providers live up to expectations”, he added.

“After the first quarter, if consumers are still facing the numerous problems being confronted in accessing these services there is no way the Consumer Protection Agency will support any tariff adjustment in future,” he noted.

“The CPA will not hesitate to go to court and seek an injunction to stop the implementation of the any upward price adjustment as announced every quarter,” he emphasized.