The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved the increase of electricity tariff for customers under the Band A classification.
This was announced on Wednesday by the NERC’s Vice Chairman, Musliu Oseni, at a news conference in Abuja.
He said the increase will see the customers pay N225 kilowatt per hour from the current N66, which is about 300 percent increase.
However, this increase only affects customers under Band A who enjoy 20 hours of electricity supply daily.
Oseni explained that these customers represent about 15 percent of the 12 million electricity consumers across the country.
He further stated that the commission had also downgraded some customers on Band A to Band B due to non-fulfilment of the required hours of electricity provided by the electricity distribution company.
“We currently have 800 feeders that are categorised as Band A, but it will now be reduced to under 500. This means that 17 percent now qualify as Band A feeders. These feeders only service 15 percent of total electricity customers connected to the feeders.
“The commission has issued an order which is titled April supplementary order and the commission allows a 235 kilowatt per hour.”
He reiterated that other consumers that are not of Band A will not be affected by the increase.