The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced that there would be no tariff increment in water and electricity for the third quarter of the year - September 1, 2012 to November 30, 2012.

This follows a similar announcement in the second quarter where the PURC refused to increase tariffs as a result of poor services by the utility companies for that quarter.

In a statement signed by the acting Chairman Dr. E.K. Annan, the commission stated that “against the background of the current load shedding exercise necessitated by a significant shortfall in gas supplies for generation of electricity, the Commission wishes to encourage consumers who are unhappy or dissatisfied with the manner in which this exercise is being handled by the Utility Service Providers to complain to the Utility Service Providers or the Commission for immediate redress.”

The statement further indicated that “during this period of a shortfall in electricity supply, the Commission is going to intensify its monitoring activities to ensure that the impact of this current situation on consumers is minimized.”

It added: “We also wish to emphasize that the Commission is committed to ensuring the delivery of the highest standard of utility services to all consumers and the general public at last.”

The Commission, however, appealed to the general public to use electricity and water efficiently during this trying moments of a shortfall in supply.