Controversial New Electricity Tariffs Take Effect on Monday

The controversial new electricity tariff which will introduce a hike in energy charges and removal of fixed charges will now take effect from Monday.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babtunde Fashola

 

The acting Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Anthony Akah, has said that the new tariffs approved for electricity consumers across the country will become effective on Monday and will enable the power distribution, generation and transmission companies to acquire needed infrastructure. 

 

Akah revealed this on Thursday while paying a courtesy visit at the National Orientation Agency in Abuja.

 

The NERC boss said the lack of cost-reflective tariffs had hindered the electricity companies from acquiring the necessary infrastructure, adding that with the new tariffs, they would not have any excuse for not delivering on agreements they entered into with the government.

 

He said the Nigerian power sector reform must provide an appropriate pricing template, which had been lacking, leading to deficiency in revenues from power.

 

Accoriding to him, the new Multi-Year Tariff Order will help the generating, transmission and distribution companies to provide the needed infrastructure for higher generation and supply of electricity to meet the needs of consumers.

 

Akah said under the new MYTO, all premises must be metered and consumers who subscribe to specific metering models must be supplied meters within 60 days after which they would not be disconnected or charged on estimation if a meter was not supplied.

 

He also said that a Power Consumer Assistance Fund had been put in place to cater for the electricity needs of the less-privileged in the country, adding that the visit was part of the establishment of a coordinated approach to creating public awareness ahead of the February 1 implementation date of the new MYTO.

 

The new tarriff will see the scrapping of fixed charges and ensure that prepaid meters are distributed to those who need it. It will however introduce an increase in energy charges for all customers.