***As Nigerians may likely pay more for power from next month
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, declared Wednesday night that electricity tariff reviews going forward will only follow service-based principles.
The NERC was apparently responding to media reports that the President, Muhammadu Buhari has approved an increase in electricity tariffs for Nigerians, which is expected to take effect from September 1, 2020.
Unconfirmed online media reports has it earlier that, the President Muhammadu Buhari has finally approved the official implementation of cost-reflective tariffs for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
It said the new tariff, which will now formally commence on September 1, 2020, was one of the preconditions given by the World Bank for a $1.5bn loan for Nigeria.
And that other preconditions include the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of exchange rate, which the Central Bank of Nigeria is implementing.
But the NERC in a statement by it’s Chairman, Professor James Momoh said, “NERC wishes to clarify that tariff reviews going forward will only follow service-based principles.
“Under these service-based principles DISCOs will only be able to review tariff rates for customers when they consult with customers, commit to increasing the number of hours of supply per day and quality of service.
‘In all cases poor and vulnerable Nigerians will not experience any increase. In line with these expectations, DISCOs are directed to engage with their customers on a Service Based Tariff structure. Under the Service Based Tariff Structure, DISCOs can only review tariffs for customers under the following conditions:
“Customers are consulted and communicated a guaranteed level of electricity service by the DISCOs based on hours of supply
Customers are metered
“No estimated billing through the strict enforcement of the capping regulation. This means that unmetered customers will not experience any cost increase beyond what is chargeable to metered customers in the same area.
“Even under the above conditions, there will be no change in tariff for the most vulnerable as tariffs for those consuming 50KW or less remain frozen. Customers receiving less than 12 hours of supply will also not experience any change in tariffs.
“In addition, the President has directed that there should be a nationwide mass-metering programme in an effort by the Federal Government to put a stop to estimated and arbitrary billing for electricity.
“He has also approved a waiver of the import levy on meters, so that those that do not have meters can be supplied as early as possible at reasonable costs.
“The general public and all stakeholders in the power sector are by this statement urged to disregard any reports of an arbitrary tariff increase affecting Nigerians.”
Oil Prices Near 5-Month High Over U.S. Output Cuts, Bonny Light Gains $0.94
Oil prices climbed towards $46 a barrel on Wednesday, approaching the highest level since March, lifted by U.S. producers shutting most of their offshore Gulf of Mexico output ahead of Hurricane Laura and a report showing a fall in U.S. crude stockpiles.
Renewed fears over the coronavirus pandemic, which has eased demand and forced prices to record lows in April, limited gains following reports this week of patients being re-infected, raising worries over future immunity.
Brent crude oil futures added 8 cents, or 0.2% at $45.94 a barrel by 02:34 West Africa Time, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 2 cents, or 0.1%, at $43.33 a barrel. The two benchmarks settled at a five-month high on Tuesday.
