Reps Halt NERC’s New Electricity Tariff

The House of Repre
sentatives has warned the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) not to implement its planned increase of electricity tariff until the house concludes its investigations into activities of players in the power sector.
The Ad-hoc committee Thursday reminded NERC of its previous communications in which it was agreed that further actions towards tariff increase be suspended pending the outcome of the committee’s investigations.
The committee is investigating the activities of the electricity distribution companies (DISCO’s) with regard to infrastructure as well as method of billing.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc committee, Babajimi Benson, said, “our attention has been drawn to various news items published in many newspapers to the effort that your commission has concluded plans to announce the new electricity tariff to Nigerians.
“It is our opinion that any plan by your commission to announce new electricity tariff will run contrary to the spirit of the letter under reference and undermine the outcome of the investigative hearing by this committee as it relates to infrastructure and billing by electricity distribution companies.
“Recall that at the joint investigative hearing with the committee on power, it was agreed that any tariff increase should be suspended until all stakeholders are carried along”.
Earlier, the NERC chairman, Sam Amadi had explained at the investigative hearing that DISCOS engage in over-billing and charging of flat rates because of the absence of effective metering system and promised that the issue would be addressed in the nearest future.
However, contrary to the stand of NERC on these vexing issues, the commission planned to announce new tariff to Nigerians last week before it was halted by the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

Chris Oluoh