NERC: Hike Will Affect Only Customers On 20-Hour Supply
THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has explained that the increase in tariff would only affect customers enjoying 20-hour power supply per day across the country, who are categorised under Band A, while other customers in Bands B, C and D are not affected and will continue to pay their current rates.
Recall that the NERC approves an increase in electricity tariff paid by Band A customers from N68/KWh to N225/KWh.
Vice Chairman of NERC, Musliu Oseni, said at a news conference on Wednesday, April 3, in Abuja, that Band A customers represent 15 per cent of the 12 million electricity customers across the country.
He noted that other electricity customers not affected by the rate review would not be neglected, as they would still continue to get service, adding that the Commission has also downgraded some customers on Band A to Band C due to non-fulfillment of the required hours of electricity provided by the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos).
He stated further: “We currently have over 800 feeders that are categorised as Band A, but it will now be reduced to under 500. This means that 17 per cent of the feeders now qualifies as Band A.
“The Commission, using technology, discovered that many of the feeders that the DisCos currently brandish as Band A are not meeting the required service, and as such, the feeders were ordered to be downgraded immediately as a way of protecting consumers.”
Oseni said customers hitherto classified as Band A customers would not be affected by the rate review, saying that as part of enforcement mechanisms to ensure that areas affected by the review get the 20-hour supply, DisCos have been mandated to set up rapid response teams in locations where the feeders are located.
“This is to ensure that the customers can have access to the DisCos.
“They have also been mandated to publish the contact of the rapid response team where the customers are located.
“Failure to meet the commitment for seven consecutive days, the feeder will be downgraded immediately to the service level the DisCo is able to provide electricity to the feeder,” he said.
Oseni said where a DisCo failed to meet the commitment for two days, by the third day at 10am, the company must publish an explanation also via bulk SMS contacting the affected consumers on the feeder.
He added: “They should explain why they could not meet the service for the two days and also submit the explanation to the Commission.”
Details on consumers service bands and duration of electricity supply are Band A, 20 to 24 hours supply daily; Band B, 16 to 20 hours supply; Band C, 12 to 16 hours supply; Band D, eight to 12 hours supply and Band E, four to eight hours supply.
From the above, it is obvious that some customers are not even captured at all, as many get less than four hours supply of electricity daily.
