Nigerians Reject Imminent Hike In Electricity Tariff

Electricity consumers under different Discos have lamented the 40% increase in tariff which is to take effect from April 1, 2020.

Recall that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had approved the immediate review of electricity tariffs across the country.

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A barbing salon owner in Abuja, Stephen Abah, while speaking to our correspondent on Tuesday said that even with the increase yet to take effect, the amount he was paying for electricity now was higher than energy supplied.

“It’s not justified. I don’t think it is necessary, for now, they should go back to the drawing board and proffer a better solution to improve supply,” he said.

A civil servant, David Clement, in Calabar also faulted the tariff increase decision saying it was something to worry about as electricity supply was epileptic.

He said, “We don’t even have enough service, yet they are calling for an increase in tariff.

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“What is the guarantee that when it’s increased supply is going to get better. Otherwise, it should remain the way it is because we’re not given enough for what we are paying for.”

However, he added that the Nigerian government does not listen to the complaints of its citizens, adding that “all they care about are vacations.”

“After 4years another person will come and increase the tariff, then the complaint cycle without actions continues. Enough of the social media campaigns we need to mobilise and storm PHED for like 5 days. It’s not fair at all.”

In a similar vein, Patricia Mensah who sells frozen chicken in Kubwa ultramodern market, Abuja decried the move by NERC, saying any attempt to go ahead with the directive, could cause a riot.

“The levels of corruption in these Discos have doubled beyond when they were in NEPA even in PHCN.”

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A lecturer at the Evangel University, Akaeze, Ebonyi state, Edith Eteogu, said the proposed tariff was high relative to the rate of power supply.

“I feel EEDC is looking for a way to make excess profit because the tariff will affect my consumption.”

Meanwhile, Stakeholders, who were surveyed in the latest business expectations data, as published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), highlighted insufficient electricity supply as one of the most serious challenges hindering their business operations in the country.

Breakdown Of The New Tariff

The new amounts which will be paid by various categories of electricity consumers indicate an Increase that ranges from 59.7% to 70.6%.

Consumers classified as residential were however excluded from the review as the N4/kilowatt they pay was left unchanged.

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Under the new tariff regime, residential customers of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) that were paying N27.20 per unit, will now pay N47.09.

Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company’s (IKEDC) residential customers, the R3 category, that were formerly paying N26.50 per unit, will now pay N36.92 per unit.

While commercial customers C3 that paid N24.63 per unit in 2015 will now pay N38.14 per unit, the industrial customers D3, that were charged N25.82 per unit will now pay N35.85 per unit.

NERC added that Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) residential (R3) customers that were paying N27.11 per unit in 2015 are now to pay N48.12 per unit.

According to the regulator, this tariff is not a punishment on the consumers but will aid the Distribution companies to do more to improve services

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