The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission has approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.
The Vice Chairman, NERC, Musliu Oseni,
said the increase will see the customers
paying N225 kilowatt per hour from the
Current N66.
Customers under Band A are those who enjoy 20 hours of electricity supply daily.
Speaking at a Media conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Oseni said customers in Band A represent a 15 per cent of the 12 million electricity customers in the country.
He added that the commission had also
downgraded some customers on the
Band A to BandB due to the non-
fulfillment of the required hours of
electricity provided by the electricity
distribution company.
He said, “We currently have 800 feeders
that are categorised as BandA, but it will
now be reduced to under 500. This means that 17 per cent now qualify as Band A feeders.
“These feeders only service 15 per cent 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 said.
He added that the review will not affect
customers on the other bands.
Citing sources, Bloomberg had on
Tuesday reported that power companies
will be allowed to raise electricity prices to N200 ($0.15) per kilowatt-hour from N68 for urban conSumers.
It quoted people in the presidency with
knowledge of the matter saying this was
in a bid to attract new investment and
slash about $2.3 billion spent to cap
tariffs.
According to the news agency, “Nigerians will now have to pay $2.42 per one million British thermal units from the previous rate of $2.18 MMBtu.”
The development comes amid Monday’s
announcement by the Nigerian
Midstream and Downstream Petroleum
Regulatory Authority of an increase in the price of natural gas, which is used to
generate more than 70 per cent of
electricity in Nigeria.
The Punch