The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has denied approving a latest reported 50 percent increase in electricity tariffs in the country,
The NERC made the denial in a statement on its Twitter handle, @NERC, on Tuesday, titled: ‘Public notice on purported 50 percent increase in electricity tariffs’.
It said: “The attention of the Commission has been drawn to publications in the print and electronic media, misinforming electricity consumers that the Commission has approved a 50 percent increase in electricity tariffs.”
Making clarification on the issue, NERC said that “no approval has been granted for a 50 percent tariff increase in the Tariff Order for electricity distribution companies, which took effect on January 1, 2021.
“On the contrary, the tariff for customers on service bands D & E (customers being served less than an average of 12hrs of supply per day, over a period of one month), remains frozen and subsidised, in line with the policy direction of the FG.”
The statement further read: “In compliance with the provisions of the EPSR Act and the nation’s tariff methodology for biannual minor review, the rates for service bands A, B, C, D and E have been adjusted by NGN2.00 to NGN4.00 per kWhr, to reflect the partial impact of inflation & movement in forex.
“In the light of strong public interest on this matter, the Media is hereby requested to retract their earlier publications misinforming electricity consumers nationwide, about a purported 50 percent increase in electricity tariffs.
“The Commission remains committed to protecting electricity consumers from failure to deliver on committed service levels under the service-based tariff regime.
“Any customer that has been impacted by any rate increases beyond the above provision of the tariff Order, should report to the Commission at customer.complaints@nerc.gov.ng.”
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