The federal government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has approved a hike in the electricity rates for consumers categorized under Band A.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, NERC’s Vice Chairman, Musliu Oseni, said the increase will see the customers pay N225 kilowatt per hour up from the current N66.
Customers under Band A are those who enjoy 20 hours of electricity supply daily, and according to Oseni they represented 15 percent of the 12 million electricity customers in the country.
Oseni said the commission had also downgraded some customers on the Band A to Band B due to non-fulfilment of the required hours of electricity provided by the electricity distribution company.
“We currently have 800 feeders that are categorised as Band A, but it will now be reduced to under 500. This means that 17 percent now qualify as Band A feeders. These feeders only service 15 percent of total electricity customers connected to the feeders.
“The commission has issued an order which is titled April supplementary order and the commission allows a 235 kilowatt per hour.”
He added that the review will not affect customers on the other Bands.
The development comes amid Monday’s announcement by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of an increase in the price of natural gas, which is used to generate more than 70% of electricity in Nigeria.
The announcement has sparked a lot of reactions from citizens as they wondered why the government is easy to approve increase in tariff and taxes, in the face of harsh economic situation in the country.
NIM
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