NERC insists electricity tariff increase must stay

By Ali Smart

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, may appear to be grandstanding judging by its insistence that the new electricity tariff which became operational on February 1, 2016 (MYTO 2015) was in order, contrary to opinions in some quarters.

The Nigeria Labour Congress had on Monday carried its threats to picket the offices of the electricity distribution companies nationwide to protest what it considered the arbitrary increase of electricity tariff by the Commission.

But the Commission, through the Head, Public Affairs Department, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, in a statement on Monday, said the commission is committed to act in the best interest of electricity customers and all stakeholders in the development of the electricity industry, insisting that the tariff regulation process was in compliance with extant laws.

In the statement which reads in part, Arabi said: “The Commission will not contravene any court order. However, we wish to state that we must all exercise restraint to allow the court to do its duty of determining the matter before it.”

The NERC, he said, has since filed all necessary papers before the court in response to all the court cases.

“In the mean time, we wish to state that the Commission is dedicated to ensuring that regulation of the sector is fair and balanced for consumers, investors and all stakeholders in the delivery of a safe, adequate and reliable electricity supply”, Arabi said.

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