The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), approved the revised Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for electricity distribution companies (Discos) last month, and they reassured Nigerians on Wednesday, that the February 1, 2016, proposed take-off date would remain unchanged.
In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs of (NERC), Dr. Usman Arabi, in Abuja that it was in view of the expected rates take-off that it directed the 11 Discos in the country’s electricity industry to abstain from connecting new customers without first providing for them consumers’ meters.
NERC further said in the statement;
“We wish to state that at no time did the commission change the date of the take-off of the new tariff,”
At the absence of the new commissioner’s, the head of the activities Dr. Anthony Akah, was quoted to have said, the removal of fixed charge under the new tariff regime was in response to electricity consumers’ complaints and a measure to ensure that the Discos improve on service delivery and revenue collection.
Akah went further by saying that, NERC would continue to engage stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly, to address extant concerns raised on the new tariff regime.
According to Akah;
“NERC holds National Assembly in high esteem and we are sure that both institutions are working to ensure that the national and consumer interests are protected,”
NERC, in implementing the tariff, will effectively monitor and enforce all service delivery agreements therein, According to him; He explained that there were inbuilt consumer protection mechanisms and incentives for improved service delivery by the Discos and fair return on investment in the new rates.
He went further by stating that, apart from eliminating fixed charge, the new MYTO has a robust mechanism to ensure that Discos embark on comprehensive metering of their consumers and thus minimise instances of estimated billing within one year.
The commission has the capacity to continue to carry out its mandate until the reconstitution of a new board of commissioners by the government.
Finally Akah further said that the commission as currently staffed, is well positioned to carry out its responsibilities effectively and efficiently especially as it commences the implementation of the new tariff pending the appointment of a new set of commissioners.