Electricity consumer groups oppose minor tariff adjustment

Electricity consumer groups on  Wednesday kicked  against the minor adjustment in electricity tariffs approved for the 11 electricity distribution companies by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The groups, the Energy Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Initiative (ECRRI) and All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum (AECPF),  decried the increment in separate interviews with journalists in Lagos.

NERC had approved the minor adjustment in tariffs for electricity users effective Jan. 1.

“The Commission hereby state unequivocally that NO approval has been granted for a 50% tariff increase in the Tariff Order for electricity distribution companies which took effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

“On the contrary, the tariffs for customers on service bands D & E (customers being served less than an average of 12hrs of supply per day over a period of one month) remains frozen and subsidised in line with the policy direction of the Federal Government.

“In compliance with the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPRSA) and the nation’s tariff methodology for biannual minor review, the rates for service bonds A, B, C, D and E have been adjusted by NGN2.00 to NGN4.00 per kWhr to reflect the partial impact of inflation and movement in foreign exchange rates,” NERC had said in a statement on Tuesday.

Reacting, Mr Adeola Samuel-Ilori, National Coordinator, AECPF, said the adjustment was illegal, unjust and unfair to electricity consumers in the country.