ICYMI: Unmetered customers can’t be charged more than their metered neighbours, says NERC

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says it has developed a principle to stem the exploitation of customers on estimated billing.

Dafe Akpeneye, NERC commissioner, legal licensing and compliance, disclosed this on Friday during the agency’s online town hall meeting with customers.

Akpeneye said with the method, named “Parity with Neighbours”, electricity distribution companies (DisCos) cannot charge unmetered customers more than their metered neighbours.

“This is the principle we are applying with unmetered customers. It basically means as an unmetered customer, you cannot be charged more than your metered neighbour,” Akpeneye said.

Speaking further on the new electricity tariff regime, Akpeneye also said DisCos must not increase tariff of customers enjoying less than 12 hours of power supply daily.

The DisCos said the classes of customers had been categorised into five bands with bands D and E, who were not enjoying 12 hours daily power supply, unaffected by the new tariff plan.

Responding to claims by some customers that the DisCos were not adhering to the increment terms, Akpeneye maintained that those who do not get 12 hours supply daily should not experience any increment.

He explained that the hours and bands were decided by the commission after consultations, but customers were assigned to the bands by the DisCos.

“Anyone who is enjoying less than 12 hours of electricity must not have their tariffs increased,” he said.

“Customers who receive electricity service below the band they have been assigned can have the DisCos move them to the actual band of electricity service they receive.

“Unhappy? Contest the band classification you have been assigned.”