The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Tuesday suspended the planned increase in the electricity tariffs paid by Nigerians, earlier scheduled to commence Wednesday. In the directive tagged /198/2020, the regulatory agency noted that following the global effects of the coronavirus and the negative effect it is having on Nigerians and the industry, the right thing to do was to postpone the date of commencement.
Signed by the NERC Chairman, Prof. James Momoh and the Commissioner for Legal, Licencing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, NERC said that from its public hearings, consumers were willing to pay appropriate rates for services rendered by the Distribution Companies (DISCOS) but must be of quality and with adequate metering.
Accordingly, the body noted that: “There shall be no increase in tariffs of end-use customers on 1 April, 2020″, adding that “This order shall take effect from 1 April 2020 and shall cease to have effect on the issuance of a new Order by the NERC.” The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says there will be a 3-month delay in the implementation of any electricity tariff.
Also, the Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman said the delay in the implementation of the tariff was one of several critical actions that the administration was taking to ensure citizens have power supply in this difficult time. He said that the 3-month delay in the implementation of tariff was consistent with President Muhammadu Buhari’s announcement on March 29 granting a moratorium for certain Federal Government funded facilities to the Nigerian Public.
The minister commended players in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) that made commitments to ensure stable power supply during this period. “”We must work together. I must specifically commend the Distribution Companies (DisCos) that have direct interface with the citizens.
Many of the DisCos have announced that they will take measures to maintain power supply to citizens in this difficult time.
“I would like to implore that the DisCos uphold these commitments,” he said. He listed the key emergency measures being taken to support NESI in the tariff delay for 3-months to limit economic hardship on Nigerians in this difficult time include ongoing engagements with key players involved in the NESI to ensure sustainable power supply.
According to him, players in the industry are working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure payments to the generators and gas suppliers. He said that the payment to be done through the Payment Assurance Facility (PAF) would be expedited to support power supply.
