Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have begun acknowledging their inability to meet the prescribed power supply standards for Band A customers, as mandated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
On April 3, NERC approved an increase in electricity tariffs for customers classified under Band A, raising the rate from N66 to N225.
Band A customers are guaranteed a minimum of 20 hours of power supply per day, and all DisCos have been instructed to immediately implement this policy.
To ensure transparency and accountability, NERC stipulated that if a DisCo fails to meet the committed service level to a Band-A feeder for two consecutive days, they must publish the reasons for their failure on their website by 10:00 am the following day. The DisCo is also required to update affected customers on the timeline for service restoration to the committed level.
In accordance with the directive from NERC, four out of the 11 DisCos have publicly acknowledged their inability to meet the daily supply requirements and have provided reasons for their shortcomings. These companies are Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDC), and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
For instance, IBEDC stated on its website that some Band A customers did not receive the expected 20 hours of electricity due to system outages and feeder tripping.
KEDCO attributed its failure to provide the required hours of electricity to a circuit breaker issue affecting its ability to supply power to premium customers.
BEDC apologized to its customers for not meeting the minimum service level of 20 hours on the feeders as of April 8.
Similarly, KAEDC also apologized for failing to deliver the expected hours of electricity to affected customers by April 8.
Additionally, KEDCO published a record of the hours each feeder, especially Band A feeders, accessed electricity between April 3 and April 8 on its website.
On April 9, NERC instructed DisCos to prioritize metering for Band A customers, noting that approximately 20 percent of these customers are still unmetered. DisCos were urged to ensure that all customers on premium band feeders are metered promptly.
