The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to increase their tariff effect from 1st September, 2021.
The commission in a letter titled ‘Tariff Increase Notification’ gave the energy distributors the leverage to charge a service based tariff.
The commission’s spokesman, Dr. Usman Arabi, whom The Nation called to confirm the story neither answered nor replied the text message sent to his mobile line.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr. Oyebode Fadipe, also did not respond to our correspondent’s call and text message at press time.
Eko Electricity Distribution Plc, has however denied sending out information regarding hiking its tariff. In a statement signed by the MD, Engr. Adeoye Fadeyibi FNSE, the organization said: “Our attention has been drawn to news making the rounds in the media from unsubstantiated sources of a planned adjustment in electricity tariffs. Eko Electricity Distribution Plc would like to inform the general public to disregard all such reports not emanating from the management or the company’s website – www.ekedp.com.
“While we continue to review effective and regulatory strategies to manage the impact of changes to macro-economic indices affecting end-user tariffs, the general public will be duly informed, in the event of any changes to the end-user tariff. We advise all customers to disregard all communications that have not been issued by management or published on the company’s website www.ekedp.com. Please kindly contact our 24/7 customer care line on 07080655555, OR customercare@ekedp.com for further information for enquiries and a prompt resolution of any further queries or complaints.”
Meanwhile, the Association of the Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has dismissed claims that the Distribution Companies (DisCos) had pressured the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend trading of electricity under the Eligible Customer Regulation (ECR) 2017.
ANED Executive Director, Research & Advocacy, Barrister Sunday Oduntan, made this known in a rejoinder yesterday.
He said: “Whilst the concerns of the author and the stakeholders behind the publication are misplaced and unfounded, we found it compelling to set the records straight on the issues brought forward in the said publication.”
The DisCos also said they recognize the relevant provisions of the ESPRA 2005 and the ECR as well as their objectives, noting that there has been improvement in DisCos’ performance with more collaborations to increase efficiencies of the DisCos and indeed the entire value chain to achieve clean, safe and uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians.
“The regulation is therefore a welcome initiative provided that the stakeholders comply with the laid down procedures and requirements.
“In response to the insinuation that NERC and the DisCos are colluding to frustrate the implementation of the regulation, we wish to state unequivocally that this is untrue, unfounded, preposterous, and irresponsible of the stakeholders who have failed to meet the requirements of the Regulation and attempting to pass the buck.” requirements of the Regulation and attempting to pass the buck.”
