Confusion heightened at the weekend over the increase in electricity tariff after a document allegedly released by Eko Electricity Distribution Company claimed that the power sector regulator had approved tariff hike.
In the document, with reference 023/EKEDP/GMCLR/0025/2021, dated August 25, 2021, it was alleged that the Disco officially informed its customers on the decision of upward tariff adjustment effective from September 1, 2021.
“The increase will be reflected on the energy bill for October 2021, which will represent energy consumption for September 2021,” the Disco allegedly stated.
In the notice to power users with meters, the Disco allegedly said, “For metered customers with internal vending arrangements, we urge you to adjust the rates accordingly to reflect the new tariff increase as released by NERC.”
Although Eko Disco later denied the document, it had allegedly informed its customers earlier that the NERC had directed Discos to increase tariff beginning from September 1, 2021.
But the Managing Director, EKEDC, Adeoye Fadeyibi, denied the document in a public notice which he personally signed last Saturday.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to news making the rounds in the media from unsubstantiated sources of a planned adjustment in electricity tariffs.
“Eko Electricity Distribution Plc would like to inform the general public to disregard all such reports not emanating from the management or the company’s website – www.ekedp.com.”
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC was yet to react to this development.
According to a letter titled: “Tariff Increase Notification” and sent to the 11 DisCos, electricity consumers were to be charged more for energy consumed.
Apparently in compliance with the directive, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company had in a letter marked 023/EKEDP/GMCLR/ 0025/2021, dated 25th August 2021, informed its customers on the upward tariff adjustment effective from September 1, 2021.
The Disco informed its customers that “the increase will be reflected on the energy bill for October 2021, which will represent energy consumption for September 2021.
It also formed its metered customers on the development, stating that: “for metered customers with internal vending arrangements, we urge you to adjust the rates accordingly to reflect the new tariff increase as released by NERC.”