NERC announces tariff review, says no increment for residential consumers

By Etuka Sunday

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a review of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2 regime that would reposition the industry for the takeoff of disciplined electricity market by January 1, 2015.

The Commission in a statement said, with the commencement of MYTO 2.1, it’s would now progressively hold electricity distribution, transmission, generation companies as well as other market operators to the terms and conditions of their licences.

The statement quoted the Commission’s Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi as saying that the adjustment in methodology was not expected to bring about any increase in tariff to the residential customers on R1 and R2, who formed majority of electricity consumers, at least not in the next six months.

Explaining the rationale behind the adjustment, Amadi said that the Commission had shielded ordinary Nigerians from possibility of rates shock that could have accompanied the review while pressing the

operators for improved service delivery and to abide by the agreement they signed into while acquiring the electricity entities.

He explained further that the review was imperative on account of possible the take off date of January 1, 2015 for the transition electricity market and the memorandum of understanding between the

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

According to him, all these measures were being put in place to ensure the new owners can fund their operations and ensure improved electricity supply to the economy as well as expand the amount of

electricity available for economic development.

With this development the existing regime of Interim Rules, whereby the Commission govern the market without the full rigours of the MYTO, as situation arises will cease, while activities of the market will now be governed by strict contractual obligations.