Business
Abuja Electricity Consumers Protest Tariff Hike
Electricity consumers
in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have protested over the astronomical hike in electricity tariff by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
The protesters under the auspices of Cooperative Business Society of Abuja (CBSA) said the action of AEDC management was inimical to economic and business growth in the country especially in the FCT and its environs.
The CBSA group said the hike was a flagrant disregard to the Multi-Year Tariffs Order (MYTO) as contained in the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) guideline.
CBSA said the hike was a setback to business growth especially with world economy facing turbulent time, stressing that the AEDC had jacked up the electricity tariffs for businesses from N22.08 to N35.03 per kilowatt for commercial power consumers in the FCT, an increment of about 58 per cent.
The group said their objection to the tariffs was based on NERC’s guideline that the maximum electricity increase for 2015 is five per cent and not 58.55 per cent as done by AEDC.
The group said they were shaken by the blatant disregard for the NERC’s guideline and total lack of consideration for businesses operating in the FCT, stressing that many businesses have collapsed under the ever increasing weight of cost of operation and harsh economic environment.
They further said that the increase would definitely run down their businesses and have a negative impact on potential investors in FCT.
CBSA appealed to the management of AEDC to revoke the electricity hike without delay and abide by NERC’s guideline.