Electricity: Buhari Stops Estimated Billing

…Directs nationwide mass metering

…NERC committed to protecting customers

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that there should be a nationwide mass metering programme in an effort by the Federal Government to put a stop to estimated and arbitrary electricity billing.

He has also approved a waiver of the import levy on meters, so that those that do not have meters can be supplied as early as possible and at reasonable costs.

This was contained in a statement issued by James A. Momoh, Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in response to media reports that there is an increase in tariffs.

NERC clarifies that tariff reviews upwards will only follow service-based principles. “Under these service-based principles DISCOs will only be able to review tariff rates when they consult with customers, commit to increasing the number of hours of supply per day and quality of service”, according to the statement.

In all cases poor and vulnerable Nigerians will not experience any increase. “In line with these expectations, DISCOs are directed to engage with their customers on a Service-Based Tariff structure. Under the structure, DISCOs can only review tariffs for customers under the following conditions: Customers are consulted and communicated a guaranteed level of electricity service by the DISCOs based on hours of supply; Customers are metered; No estimated billing through the strict enforcement of the capping regulation.

“This means that unmetered customers will not experience any cost increase beyond what is chargeable to metered customers in the same area”, NERC further clarified in the statement.

Even under the above conditions, there will be no change in tariff for the most vulnerable as tariffs for those consuming 50KW or less remain frozen. Customers receiving less than 12 hours of supply will also not experience any change in tariffs.

The general public and all stakeholders in the power sector are by the statement, urged to disregard any reports of an arbitrary tariff increase affecting Nigerians.