NERC denies reports of 50% electricity tarriff increase
By Ogaga Ariemu
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has denied reports in some media that its ordered 50 per cent electricity tarriff increase.
This is was contained in a statement signed by the management of the commission on Tuesday 5th.
The statement reads,
“The attention of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (“the Commission”) has been drawn to publications in the print and electronic media misinforming electricity consumers that the Commission has approved a 50% increase in electricity tariffs.
“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 January 1, 2021. On the contrary, the tariff 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 frozenand 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 bands 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.
“In the light of strong public interest on this matter, the media is hereby requested to retract their earlier publications misinforming electricity consumers nationwide about a purported 50% increase in electricity tariffs.
“The Commission remains committed to protecting electricity consumers from failure to deliver on committed service levels under the service-based tariff regime. Any customer that has been impacted by any rate increases beyond the above provision of the tariff Order should report to the Commission at [email protected]”.
The media space have saturated with reports claiming that the commission has approved 50% electricity increase barely two Months after introducing Cost Reflective Tarriff.
Meanwhile in a telephone interview with NERC’s Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Barr. Dafe Akpeneye he further reconfirmed that there is no increase for band D and E electricity consumers.
He stated there is a slight adjustment for band A-C electricity consumers ranging from N2 to N4.
He stated that reports making the round on 50 percent electricity tarriff increase are deliberate misinformation.
“If you read the order, you will see what was said and we have also issued a public notice that explains everything, first of all for band D and E there is no increase, from A-C the increase will range from N2-4. If you read the Public Notice and read the order it clearly stated.
“When you look at the schedule and the old one, you will see that it is stated. I don’t know who is spreading the misinformation. It not a misunderstanding it is a deliberate distortion.The commission has issued a public notice to that effect, and also if you look at the review order, compare to the old order, in the schedule it has a tarriff compare to the old Tarriff order of September 1st that is applicable. You will even see for yourself who is lying and who is telling the Truth”, he said.
He further urged the media to desist from heating up the polity.
The electricity tariff adjustment took effect on January 1, 2021, which is a slightly variance from the previous Order NERC/2028/2020.
This will be effective till June 2021.
NewsDirect learnt from a revised Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) signed by the new Chairman of NERC, Engr. Sanusi Garba, on December 30, 2020.
Recall that in November 1, 2020, the suspended tariff was implemented after some discounts were given for customers who get 12 hours and above power supply daily.
