The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has adjusted the tariffs payable to Discos, as some of the power firms got a raise in their tariffs, while others had theirs reduced, Punch reports.
This has led to anger among consumers, who have kicked against the silent increase in the tariff payable by customers to power distribution companies for electricity consumed.
They said it was worrisome that the government was allowing Discos to raise electricity tariff amid fuel scarcity across the country.
This, however, was not announced or published or the website of the regulator as it used to publish it in the past.
The President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kola Olubiyo, told our correspondent that his group took up the matter with the regulator last week.
He stated that while some customers said their tariffs were increased by N4, others could not actually tell the amount by which theirs were raised, adding that there had been no public confirmation by the NERC.
He said, “They (NERC) raised it last week or there about, and is like it is a N4 adjustment. Port Harcourt and Abuja (Discos) raised it and in fact, I think it is across board.
“But what we are asking the regulator is that if they approved something that is going to affect our pocket without letting us know, it is like shaving our heads in our absence.
“They said labour was part of them and I said is that what labour went to negotiate for us? I was told that they have a structured table that has already been approved and it is just for them to implement.”
Olubiyo added, “But if they have approved the table as they said, are they giving us the required services? You and I know that services have not improved. We are having low generation and all manner of blame games.”
The legal practitioner and NCPN president insisted that the regulator should provide a table on the increase as it used to publish in the past, stressing that consumers had the right to know.
