PRESS RELEASE
New Tariff Regime Removes
Fixed Charges
The new electricity tariff regime approved over the weekend by
the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has removed fixed charges
for all classes of electricity consumers. Henceforth, from the next billing
period, distribution companies will no longer charge their customers monthly
fixed charges. Fixed charge is that component of the tariff that commits
electricity consumers to paying an approved amount of money not minding whether
electricity is consumed during the billing period.
*Amadi
Under the new tariff regime, electricity consumers will now only pay for what
they consume from month to month. According to the Chairman/CEO of NERC, Dr.
Sam Amadi, "This is good news for electricity consumers who have long
asked for a more just and fair pricing of electricity. The regulatory
commission had promised to address all the complaints against fixed charges
through a regulatory process that promotes investments in the electricity
industry without unfairly burdening electricity consumers. This is in line with
NERC's mandate to be fair in all its regulatory interventions".
Although, the new tariff regime comes with an increase in energy
charges, all electricity consumers (residential as well as commercial) will no
longer pay fixed charges. Their total bills will depend on the electricity they
actually consume and may be reduced when they conserve electricity. Consumers
will no longer be spending money every month to pay for fixed charges even when
they do not receive electricity in their homes and business.
According to the chairman of NERC, "The objective of the
new tariff is to enable prudent consumers to save money on electricity bill as
they can now control their consumption and not pay monthly fixed charges".
For instance, residential customer classification (R2) in Abuja
Electricity Distribution Company will no longer pay N702.00 fixed charge every
month. Their energy charge will increase by N9.60kwh. Also, residential
customers (R2 customers) in Eko and Ikeja electricity distribution areas will
no longer pay N750. 00 fixed charges. They will be getting N10kwh and N8kwh
increase respectively in their energy charges. Similarly, the burden of N800.00
and N750.00 fixed charges would be lifted off the shoulders of Kaduna
and Benin
electricity consumers. These consumers will see an increase of N11.05kwh and
N9.26kwh respectively in their energy charges.
The new tariff is also good news for commercial consumers. For
example, commercial customers' classification C2 in Ibadan
and Enugu will
no longer pay fixed charges of N17, 010. 00 and N22, 141. 00. Their energy
charge will increase by N12.08kwh and N13.35kwh respectively.
In line with the transparent disposition to its operations full
details of the new tariff regime would be advertised in major national dailies
and Commission website within the next 24 hours.
Besides, this cost saving element, the new tariff regime comes with renewed commitments by the electricity distribution companies (discos) to rapidly improve on the downtime and quality of electricity supply. These commitments are contained in service level agreements, which are based on the performance level agreements submitted by the new owners during the bid process. The tariff order also encourages the distribution companies to develop new sources of supply within their franchises to increase the amount and quality of supply to target customers on a willing buyer willing seller basis. These measures are necessary to improve electricity supply acrossNigeria
and ensure that the distribution companies are working hard to increase
investment that will ensure predictable and ultimately reliable and
uninterrupted electricity supply in Nigeria .
Besides, this cost saving element, the new tariff regime comes with renewed commitments by the electricity distribution companies (discos) to rapidly improve on the downtime and quality of electricity supply. These commitments are contained in service level agreements, which are based on the performance level agreements submitted by the new owners during the bid process. The tariff order also encourages the distribution companies to develop new sources of supply within their franchises to increase the amount and quality of supply to target customers on a willing buyer willing seller basis. These measures are necessary to improve electricity supply across
Henceforth every disco should meter all its customers. The metering
policy will be strictly enforced. For those willing electricity customers who
paid for meters under the Cash Advance Payment Metering Initiative (CAPMI) but
are yet to be metered within the allowable 60 days would no longer be billed by
the electricity distribution companies under the new tariff regime. And the
discos will not disconnect them. There is zero tolerance for overbilling of
customers. An unmetered customer who is disputing his estimated bill would not
be expected to pay the disputed bill. He would pay his last undisputed bill as
the contested bill go through the dispute resolution process. This is a
departure from the old practice which prescribes that customers should first
settle the bill while dispute resolution is in process.
Meanwhile, no electricity distribution company is allowed to
connect new customers without metering the customer first. This is to close the
wide metering gap of over 50 per cent and reduce high incidence of collection
losses in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
According to the Commission, "the new tariff regime is the result of a transparent, rigorous and credible rate review process. The tariffs will lead to greater reliability in the provision of electricity. More people will progressively have access to the grid, more meters will be deployed and the need for self generation would be gradually reduced."
According to the Commission, "the new tariff regime is the result of a transparent, rigorous and credible rate review process. The tariffs will lead to greater reliability in the provision of electricity. More people will progressively have access to the grid, more meters will be deployed and the need for self generation would be gradually reduced."
The Commission expects the electricity distribution companies to
provide better customer service in all aspects of their operations and would
hold the electricity distribution companies responsible for their service level
agreements.
Dr.
Usman Abba Arabi
Head, Public Affairs Department,
Head, Public Affairs Department,
NERC
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