By CONSTANCE ATHEKAME

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says the increase in tariff will only affect customers enjoying 20 hour power supply across the country.

The commission said that other customers in Bands B, C and D are not affected by the increase

Mr Musliu Oseni, Vice Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the commission has approved the increase in electricity tariff paid by Band A customers from N68/KWh to N225KWh adding that the increase will not affect customers on bands B and C.

Oseni said that the increase only affect about 15 per cent electricity consumers that have been proven to enjoy 20 hours power supply daily.

He said that other electricity customers not affected by the rate review would not be neglected as they would still continue to get service.

The vice chairman said that the commission had also downgraded some customers on the Band A to Band B due to the non-fulfillment of the required hours of electricity provided by the electricity distribution company.

We currently have over 800 feeders that are categorised as Band A, but it will now be reduced to under 500. This means that 17 per cent of the feeder now qualifies as Band A.

The commission using technology discovered that many of the feeders that the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) currently brandish as Band A are not meeting the required service and as such.

The feeders were ordered to be downgraded immediately as a way of protecting consumers, he said.

Oseni said that customers hitherto classified as Band A customers would not be affected by the rate review.

He said that as part of enforcement mechanismsto ensure thatareas affected by the review get the 20 hours supply,DisCos have been mandated to set up rapid response teams in locations where the feeders are located.

This is to ensure that the customers can have access to the DisCos.

They have also been mandated to publish the contact of the rapid response team where the customers are located.

Failure to meet the commitment for seven consecutive days, the feeder will be downgraded immediately to the service level the DisCos is able to provide electricity to the feeder, he said.

Oseni said where a DisCofailed to meet the commitment for two days by the third day at 10am, the company must publish an explanation also via bulk SMS contacting the affected consumers on the feeder.

They should explain why they could not meet the service for the two days andalso submit the explanation to the commission, he said. (NAN)