Director of Operations at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Abubakar Jabari, has hinted at a possible downward review of water bills in the coming weeks.
The Commission recently reviewed electricity tariffs down by up to 30 percent to the relief of power consumers who had been buckling under high charges.
Prior to the down review of electricity costs, power producers had been lobbying for tariff hikes in excess of 50 percent.
Speaking on Joy FM/MultiTV current affairs programme, Newsfile, on Saturday, Mr Jabaru said PURC Commissioners are currently assessing factors that determine the tariffs and would soon make an announcement.
“The Commissioners will look at the revenue requirements and will also look at social interventions and social indicators and come out with a decision.
“But I can assure you that maybe there will be some kind of shift downwards,” he told host OF Newsfile, Samson Anyenini.
Meanwhile, government has said it will continue engaging utility service providers to ensure affordable tariffs.
Deputy Attorney General Joseph Dindiok Kpenka says the President will always prioritise the interest of the consumer during these engagements.
“What we are used to in this country is that PURC has come to increase prices, increase utility tariffs – that is what we are used to.
“In fact, it came as a shock to many people that these [power] reductions, not just any marginal reduction but 30 and 17 percent, it’s huge,” he said.
He said the government is committed to reducing the waste in utility production in order to remove the burden it brings to consumers when it is added to tariffs.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
