The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced that its new electricity tariff will impact only 15% of its customers. This increase, effective immediately, raises prices from N68 to N225 per kilowatt hour.
The Vice Chairman of the Market Competition Rate, Musiliu Oseni, disclosed this during a press briefing. He clarified that the adjustment will not affect many customers previously classified as Band A, with less than 15% of the customer population being impacted.
Oseni explained that the decision to revise the tariff for only a small portion of customers was due to varying infrastructure quality across different locations. In areas where existing infrastructure can support a minimum of 20 hours of supply per day without additional investment, prices will be revised. However, in locations requiring infrastructure improvements, the tariff remains unchanged.
He stated further that the affected customers are those living in areas where no further investment is needed to meet the 20-hour service standard, constituting less than 15% of the total customer base.
This move by the NERC aims to ensure that customers receive improved service quality where infrastructure is already sufficient, without burdening those in areas requiring infrastructure upgrades.