Consumers of water and electricity will have to brace themselves to pay more next month.
This follows a decision by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to slap a 4.22 percent increase in end-user electricity tariff for non-lifeline residential consumers and a 1.18 percent increase in average end-user water tariff for water consumers.
The upward adjustment, which takes effect on September 1, 2023, will, however, not affect lifeline consumers of both utilities and non-residential and industrial consumers of electricity.
In a statement announcing the increment, the PURC explained that the decision was arrived at after extensive deliberations and analysis of the variables affecting utility tariffs.
“The Commission, after deliberations and analysis, has approved a no increment or change in end-user electricity tariffs for lifeline customers, industrial consumers and non-residential customers (hairdressing salons, barber shops, chop bars, tailoring and dressmaking shops, coldstore and other small- and medium-scale businesses), effective September 1, 2023”.
It added “The Commission, however, approved a 4.22% increase across board in the average end-user electricity tariffs for non-lifeline residential customers. For the average end-user tariff for water, lifeline customers will experience no increase or charge in tariff. The Commission, however, approved a 1.18 increase in tariff for all other water customer groups”.
