PURC defends tariff hikes despite ongoing power and water disruptions

Director of Research and Corporate Affairs at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Dr Eric Obutey, has defended recent increases in utility tariffs, insisting that consumers are receiving value for money despite persistent complaints over erratic power supply and inconsistent water flow in parts of the country.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Middaynews on Monday, April 14, Dr Obutey acknowledged the concerns of citizens facing blackouts and water shortages, but emphasised that utility service providers are operating within regulatory benchmarks set by the Commission.

“There are clear benchmarks we use to monitor utilities, including system losses—both technical and commercial—along with the duration of outages per consumer. From our latest assessments, most of these benchmarks are being met, which indicates compliance from the service providers,” he explained.

However, the public’s growing frustration paints a different picture. Many consumers have expressed outrage at paying higher tariffs while enduring unreliable services.

In response, Dr Obutey noted that equipment failures are a natural part of utility operations, and planned or unplanned maintenance is often to blame for disruptions.

“These are machines. They will break down from time to time. Planned maintenance is usually communicated ahead of time—anywhere from two hours to two weeks in advance. But when faults occur unexpectedly, companies may not have time to notify the public,” he noted.