– Band A Consumers Demand Downgrade Due to Under-Supply, Tariff Hike –
Consumer Network Reports Ongoing Insufficiency in Electricity Supply
PowerUp Nigeria Urges Government Awareness Campaigns for Consumers
Following dissatisfaction among Band A consumers over the persistent under-supply of electricity by Distribution Companies (DisCos), several communities have sought to downgrade their band classification to Band B. These communities argue that since they are not receiving the promised 20 hours of daily supply, they should not be subjected to the increased tariff of N225 per kilowatt-hour mandated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Investigations by Vanguard reveal a decline in power allocation throughout the upstream value chain, significantly impeding DisCos’ ability to meet the minimum supply requirement. Data from the Independent System Operator indicates a load allocation of 2,989 Megawatts to the eleven DisCos, notably lower than the 4,200MW average required to fulfill tariff obligations.
Meanwhile, DisCos have responded by indicating their efforts to maintain the prescribed minimum supply. However, they explain occasional variations in supply, leading to consumer dissatisfaction. DisCos emphasize the importance of tracking supply averages over time to accurately assess service levels.
Blame-shifting between Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and DisCos further complicates the issue. While DisCos attribute supply failures to TCN challenges, TCN refutes these claims, citing specific incidents outside their operational control.
Consumer advocacy groups stress the ongoing insufficiency in total supply, highlighting the need for heightened government involvement in consumer education and protection. They commend the proactive stance of NERC but urge further measures to ensure transparency and accountability in DisCos’ operations.
In a related development, PowerUp Nigeria emphasizes the need for infrastructure investment to enhance power delivery. The organization clarifies the band classification system, emphasizing its reliance on infrastructure quality and energy consumption levels. They assert that only Band A consumers are affected by the tariff hike, representing a minority of total consumers.
DisCos are instructed to establish rapid response teams to address service level commitments, with automatic downgrade mechanisms for consistent failures. However, workers in the power sector express concern over the tariff hike, labeling it anti-people and calling for its reversal to mitigate socioeconomic hardships. They warn of potential nationwide power shutdowns in response to any attacks on their colleagues during protests against the tariff hike.
