Nigerians To Pay More For Electricity – NERC
By Emmanuel Awosika
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved a new policy that will see an increase in electricity tariffs across the country.
The tariff hike, effective from September 1 2020, was earlier scheduled for implementation on July 1, 2020. However, the National Assembly had convinced the NERC to abandon the plan, given the economic meltdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, amongst other things.
But, in a surprise move, the NERC has reportedly approved a hike in electricity tariffs, which will force electricity consumers in the country to pay more for electricity as from September 1.
“Following consultations and directions on tariff policy, the commission hereby approves a deferment of the applicable tariffs for customers in service bands D and E (that is customers with a service commitment of less than an average of 12 hours supply per day over a period of one month) for the period September 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021,” the NERC said in a statement.
It was gathered that the new tariffs are based on how much electric power the consumers get.
Electricity consumers are now divided into ‘non-maximum demand’ and ‘maximum demand’ categories, with different bands (A-E) depending on the amount of power received.
This contrasts with the previously used system where customers were divided into residential, commercial and industrial categories.
Under the new tariff plan, a residential customer receiving, on average, 12 hours of electricity from Ikeja Electric will pay N42.73 per kilowatt, up from N21.30 per kilowatt.
Similarly, a residential customer of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, receiving getting 12-16 hours of power will pay N45.69 per kilowatt, up from N24.30 per kilowatt.
A residential customer of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (single phase) getting an average of 12 hours of electricity per day will pay N43.01 per kilowatt, up from N24 per kilowatt.
