The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved an increase in electricity tariff across the country.
The increase takes effect from Wednesday, September 1.
Sources said the 11 power Distribution Companies (DisCos) have obtained NERC approval this month.
An Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) confirmed the hike in a notification to its customers, dated August 25, 2021, and signed by EKEDC General Manager, Loss Reduction at EKEDC, Mr Olumide Anthony-Jerome.
The notice stated: “This is to officially notify you that there will be an increase in electricity tariff with effect from September 1, 2021. This increase is as a result of the nationwide mandate to implement the Service-Based Tariff (SBT) approved by our regulators (NERC).”
“In addition, for our metered customers with internal vending arrangements, we urge you to adjust the rates accordingly to reflect the new tariff increase as released by NERC.”
The newly approved plan for Eko DisCo states that customers under Band A non-maximum Demand (MD) – customers with lower power consumption capacity have their rates increased by N2 per kilowatts hour (kwh), from N54.08/kwh to N56.08/kwh and are promised at least 20 hour of supply daily.
While MD1 customers on Band A will pay N58.94/kwh from N56.94/kwh.
The new tariff will takes effect from September to December 2021, the notice stated.
On the other hand, customers on Band D and E are also affected: Residential Customer 2 S (R2S), Commercial customers (C1S) and Industrial customers1S (D1S) who paid N26/kwh between July and August will now pay N28/kwh.
Managing director and chief executive of EKEDC, Engr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, however, said in a statement on Saturday that customers should disregard such reports of tariff hike.
He said: “We advise all customers to disregard all communications that have not been issued by management or published on the company’s website.”
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