On Monday, power distribution firms retracted their prior statement that a tariff increase would go into effect on July 1, 2023, saying that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission had not yet approved the increase.
According to a number of public announcements from some of the Discos posted on Sunday, the energy tariff would increase by between 30% and 40% for a limited group of consumers on July 1, 2023.
For instance, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company issued a PSA that stated, “Please be informed that effective July 1, 2023, there will be an upward review of the electricity tariff influenced by the shifting exchange rate.
However, the same AEDC requested that its customers overlook the anticipated tariff rise because authorisation for such an increment had not yet been granted in a Monday appeal.
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“Please disregard the circulating communication, regarding the review of electricity tariffs. Be informed that no approval for such increments has been received. We regret any inconvenience,” the AEDC stated in its latest announcement.
Olabode Fadipe, a former AEDC spokesperson and seasoned industry expert, commented on the development, saying, “NERC never publishes any positions or issues any formal statements. That is something that the discos do. When the Discos receive NERC’s permission, they immediately make the modification.
“Discos perhaps got approval for 1st July and chose to put their customers on notice only to be told that their action was hasty. That end users have been told to ignore the message does not mean that the increase won’t be affected.”
While the Ikeja Electric spokesman, Ayeni Akinola, called the initial circular that was trending “fake,” the circular recommended consumers with prepaid metres to buy energy units in bulk before the price increase goes into effect on July 1, 2023.
“If you have a prepaid meter, buying bulk energy units for your home or office before the end of the month may help you make some savings before you have to buy at the new rate.
“For those on post-paid (estimated) billing, a significant increment is imminent in your monthly billing, starting from August,” it stated.
In similar vain, the Assistant Manager Communications, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Mary Anavhe has also dismissed an imminent increase in tariffs.
