DisCos secretly increase electricity tariff in December as NERC, Jedy Agba stay silent

Goddy Jedy-Agba, Nigeria’s minister of state for power, reportedly refused to confirm an electricity tariff increase that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Nairametrics can confirm that electricity tariffs were raised across the country’s DisCos around mid-December 2022. Prepaid customers who purchased electricity just before Christmas confirmed the price increase to Creebhills.

When asked about the increase in electricity tariffs during a public hearing on January 5, the state minister did not confirm or deny it. Rather, he delegated authority to the chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

This occurred during a public hearing held by the House Committee on Power on a bill seeking to amend the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005.

As a response to verifying the tariff increase, Mr. Agba reportedly said:

• “Where is the chairman, NERC? He is the one that does anything on tariffs. I can’t speak on tariffs. Don’t put me in a corner. There is a chairman responsible for NERC. You want me to tell you what does not apply and you hold me on to that responsibility? The chairman of NERC is here. Let me bring him here. So, when you ask me, he will answer it. It is the chairman (of) NERC that is responsible for a tariff increase.”

Tariff increase:  Information available to Nairametrics showed that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a minor tariff order review for December 2022.

According to the review order of Abuja DisCo seen by Nairametrics, NERC issued the adjustments to power tariffs on November 28 and directed DisCos to implement the changes from December 1, 2022.  Band A customers will pay as much as N81.1/KWh.

See break down:

• Band A customers who receive a minimum of 20 hours of power supply a day will pay between N66.95 and N81.18 per kilowatt hour (kW/h).
• Band B customers who enjoy a minimum of 16 hours of power supply a day will now pay between N63.35 and N76.15 per kW/h.
• Band C customers who have a minimum of 12 hours of power supply a day will pay between N51.79 to N63.44 per kW/h; indicating no change from the previous tariff order that was active between July and November 2022.
• Band D customers who receive a minimum of 8 hours a day of power supply will pay between N33.95 and N55.82 per kW/h; indicating no change from the previous tariff order that was active between July and November 2022.
• Meanwhile, Band E customers who receive a minimum of four hours a day of power supply will pay between N32.88 and N48.37 per kW/h; indicating no change from the previous tariff order that was active between July and November 2022.