DISCOs dare court, Senate over electricity tariff hike

In spite of the fact that a Federal High Court in Lagos, refused an application by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, seeking to stay further proceedings in the suit challenging the hike in electricity tariff by Distribution Companies, DISCOs, the companies in question are adamant that the increase in electricity tariffs across the country would be implemented regardless.

A lawyer and rights activist, Toluwani Adebiyi had instituted a suit against the NERC and the DISCOs following which the court had restrained parties to maintain status-quo.

But the power distribution companies met briefly with the NERC on Monday insisting that it would go ahead with the hike in tariff, which it had implemented on February 1, 2016 despite the subsisting order.

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NERC had asked the court to stay proceedings until its appeal against two previous rulings delivered by the judge was heard and determined by the Appeal Court.

Justice Idris had in one of the rulings barred NERC from implementing any upward review in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
The increase in electricity tariff is also coming against a resolution by the Senate mandating NERC and the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to suspend the increase in tariffs.

It was gathered that the Discos viewed the Senate’s position on the new electricity tariff regime as advisory.

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