Electricity tariff increase was done through consultation - NERC explains
- NERC says the planned increase in tariff was done through consultation with DisCos and stakeholders in the electricity sector
- The NERC chairman, John Momoh, said the agency had looked at all the resistance that could come up, adding that the matter was open to discussion
- Momoh warned consumers that if they use different appliances in a room, they would lose more energy
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said the planned increase in tariff was done through consultation with Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) and stakeholders in the sector.
Prof John Momoh, chairman of NERC, said this to newsmen on Thursday, August 22 in Abuja during the assumption of office of the new minister of power, Sale Mamman, NAN reports.
Legit.ng gathers that Momoh said that the planned increase in tariff was through careful thinking, consultation with the DiScos and other stakeholders
“We have discussed fully what we are about to do and it is the right time to do it because we have metres out there that are going to reduce the estimated bill.
“So that everybody knows that you can control how much power you use and how much you pay which is part of the order.
“So, I think we are in the right direction.
“But mind you we also divided the payment into different classes, if you read it carefully and of course enforce it as a rule. If you have any questions, send it in writing,” he said.
He said that NERC had looked at all the resistance that could come up, adding that it was open to discussion.
“It is not that we are doing it as a law but this is an order and you read it. If you are concerned, contact us," he said,
The NERC boss said that there would be penalty for not producing quality service.
“If your metre doesn’t read, then you won’t be paying. If you have no metres, there is going to be a capping on how much you should pay.
“So the issue is under consultation and in few days we will conclude the discussion; we spent Tuesday (August 20) on franchising and having discussions on capping.
“We have collected enough data we have all over the country and we are listening to consumers, manufacturers and whoever wants to talk about pricing issue.
“Based on the input, we sat down and analysed and got a common ground – which project makes sense, which we think it is fair to everybody, which you and I can live with.
“At the end of the discussion we will determine the final target for those who don’t have metres,” he said.
“But more importantly I should talk as a regulator, a customer and also as an innovator.
“If you put in a very wrong fluorescent light or different appliances in the room, you are going to lose more energy.’’
The NERC boss said that there was the need to educate customers on the appliances they should use to be energy efficient; adding that it was critical to use the right energy to avoid waste.
“You are going to be paying for those wasted energy, so we have to minimise loss at the customer end.
“We have to also minimize loss at the DISCO level in an attempt that they also feel more comfortable in getting more value for their investment,” he added.
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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that a new tariff was approved by the the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission for the electricity distribution companies in the country.
The agency made this known on Wednesday, August 21, in a series of publications tagged ‘2016-2018 minor review of the 2015 multi-year tariff order’ (MYTO) for each DisCo.
The documents indicated that the new tariff became effective from Monday, July 1, 2019.
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Source: Legit.ng
