The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, said on Wednesday it has not approved any increase in electricity tariffs in the country.
Rather, it said Discos are to engage with their customers on a Service Based Tariff structure.
The NERC, which was reacting to reports that it has approved an increase in electricity tariff also disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered operators in the power sector to carry out mass metering of unmetered customers nationwide.
A statement on Wednesday signed the Commission’s Chairman, James Momoh, explained that tariff reviews going forward would only follow service-base tarrif structure.
According to the statement, “Under these service-based principles, power distribution companies would only be able to review tariff rates for customers when they consult with customers, commit to increasing the number of hours of supply per day and quality of service.
“In all cases, poor and vulnerable Nigerians will not experience any increase. In line with these expectations, Discos are directed to engage with their customers on a Service Based Tariff structure.”
The NERC said under the Service Based Tariff Structure, Discos would only review tariffs for customers under three conditions; that customers are consulted and communicated a guaranteed level of electricity service by the Discos based on hours of supply; that customers are metered, and that there will be no estimated billing based on the strict enforcement of the capping regulation, meaning that unmetered customers will not experience any cost increase beyond what is chargeable to metered customers in the same area.
The statement posted on the Commission’s official Twitter handle stated further “Under the above conditions, there will be no change in tariff for the most vulnerable as tariffs for those consuming 50KW or less remain frozen.
Customers receiving less than 12 hours of supply would also not experience any change in tariffs.”
“The President has directed that there should be a nationwide mass-metering programme in an effort by the Federal Government to put a stop to estimated and arbitrary billing for electricity.
“He has also approved a waiver of the import levy on meters so that those that do not have meters can be supplied as early as possible at reasonable costs.”
“The general public and all stakeholders in the power sector are by this statement urged to disregard any reports of an arbitrary tariff increase affecting Nigerians.”
