NERC Assures On New Electricity Tariff

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission (NERC), has said that the new electricity tariff regime starting
from June 1 would ensure improved services to consumers.

NERC Commissioner for Marketing,
Competition and Rates, Mr Eyo Ekpo gave the assurance in an interview with
newsmen.

Ekpo noted that the billing under the new
tariff regime would be based on locations because tariff clarifications had shown
the energy consumption is different from locations.

He said that the current poor supply of
electricity would be a thing of the past with the numerous power projects
embarked upon by the Federal Government.

According to him, the commission has
established links with relevant national and international regulatory policy
makers and funding bodies for the benefit of bio-diversity conservation and
sustainability.

A Port Harcourt-based business woman, Mrs
Victoria Nkeiru Okpara in reaction to the new tariff said if that would ensure
regular and steady electricity in the country, it is welcomed.

Mrs Okpara, however, opined that monies
generated from the new tariff regime should be used to provide the necessary
facilities that would improve power supply to the citizens, pointing out that
the present situation in the power sector was nothing to be reckoned with in a
country like Nigeria.

Mr Collins Owotor, a civil servant, was of
the view that the new tariff be put on hold until Nigerians are satisfied with
the power supply trend, saying that nobody would be happy to spend money on
what he does not benefit.

Government should ensure that electricity
is made more stable in order to make people’s businesses thrive better to
enable them afford the new tariff regime, he said, regretting that the power
situation in the country had gone from bad to worse.

Shedie Okpara