From James Ojo and Peter Emeraghi, Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission( NERC) has assured stakeholders in the energy sector and the public that there is no plan to increase electricity tariff now.
Participants, including like Abuja chapter of Hotel Organisation Forum, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company(AEDC), and Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), at the parley, spoke against any move to jerk up tariff.
NERC Vice Chairman, Sanusi Garba, told stakeholders that it had become imperative to disabuse the mind of electricity consumers of any plan to jerk up electricity tariff.
“This forum is not about any increase in tariff, I would like us to clear this impression from our head. We are here to address these key issues; the MYTO methodology adopted by the commission, business continuity regulation and eligible customer regulation,” he declared.
The meeting, he added ,was conveyed to offer opportunities for major players in the electricity-chain business, to proffer solutions to the problems and challenges in the sector.
He reiterated that the stakeholders forum was to clear the impression that it was about an increase in tariff, rather, it was “to get recommendations and suggestions from stakeholders and public as to the frequency of tariff increment for end users.”
Sanusi Garba also played down claims that the commission protects the Distribution companies and neglects the end users, noting that it was wrong for anyone to claim that end users are made to pay for the losses of some of the distribution companies.
“It is a matter of perception; as a regulatory body, our interest goes beyond the operators in the industry. No matter the quantum of electricity generated in Nigeria, we have to feel the impact. NERC will not protect operators in the industry, and that is where we stand.”
“We have received comments from our distribution companies that many people are not submitting themselves for renumeration, the thing is that we are all involved; please if you know anyone who has not submitted himself for renumeration, advice them to.”
He added that the commission was also looking at the possibilities of measures to undertake to ensure that eligible customers can buy electricity directly from generation companies, saying that it was a sure way of reducing tariff for end users