By Etuka Sunday
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday disclosed that there was no immediate increase in electricity tariff for customers as being speculated.
NERC said, although electricity tariff review was statutory, it was not tantamount to tariff increase, saying that consultations would be held with the customers before any tariff increase.
Chairman, NERC, Prof. James Momoh while addressing newsmen in Abuja said, the Multi-Year Tariff Order released was simply a communication of what the Regulator (NERC) has done looking at the macro-economic variables like the exchange rate, inflation Rate and the price of gas.
Prof. Momoh said, in the next three months public consultations would be held to determine whether to go for tariff increase or decrease.
“There is no immediate increase in tariff for customers. The proposed tariff reveiw is what we are mandated to do as a Regulator. We are to do that twice a year. We have done the first one around June, January is here and we must do our job.
“We have done the review and is subject to public consultation. In the next three months we will engage you for consultation.
“The Order is simply a communication of what we have done as a regulator, looking at what it takes to increase and decrease the tariff.
“If at the end of our meeting back and forth, we say no increase, no increase. And if there is going to be increase, it will be based on our engagement at the public forum.
“We are going to issue press statement to clarify this once more. We will engage with all the customers; Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and others.
“There will be no increase without negotiation. There is a change in tariff, customers need to know why and how it was done. It has to be good for everybody. Don’t forget, services must also improve,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman announced that the 11th edition of the International Conference on Energy, Power Systems Operations and Planning (ICEPSOP), an initiative of the Howard University U.S.A with sponsorship from the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States of America is being hosted and organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja from January, 20 to January 22, 2020.
