By Jumoke Adelabu
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said the review of electricity tariffs in the country is subject to public consultation.
The chairman of the board of NERC, James Momoh, said the proposed tariff is only a review that it is mandated twice in a year.
Speaking at a briefing on an oncoming international conference on energy, power systems and planning, which will take place in Abuja, Mr Momoh said within three months, the commission will engage the media and other Nigerians.
“So, there will be consultations. We have done our review and given a report card of what we saw based on all the indices.
“There is no immediate increase in tariff for customer. The proposal for proposed tariff review is what we are mandated to do as a regulator. We are to do it twice a year.
“We (did) the first one around June. January is here, thank God. We have no option but to do our job. We must do our job,” he said.
He said the review is simply a communication of what the commission has done as a regulator, as it pertains to an increase or decrease the tariff.
He said, “if there is going to be increase, it will be based on consultations at a public forum.”
Mr Momoh also said a press release will be issued over the weekend to clarify the issue.
The NERC commissioner, Frank Okafor, who was also at the briefing, said the tarriff review is statutory and not tantamount to tariff increase to the end user.
“This review is an internal process between participants in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry and the regulator (NERC)” he said.
The tariff review affected DisCos which include: Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company.
Others are Jos Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and Yola Electricity Distribution Company.
