Electricity Commission Says Discos Can’t Hike Tariffs Without Approval

The National Electricity Regulatory Commission has stated that electricity distribution companies require its approval before increasing tariffs.

The spokesperson of the Commission, Usman Abba Arabi, made this disclosure in a chat with newsmen on Tuesday.

There have been media reports that Discos had concluded plans to hike electricity tariffs in the New Year.

Earlier, the NERC spokesperson had noted that the commission had not approved any new electricity tariffs for any of the Discos within the Nigerian electricity supply industry.

He advised Nigerians to ignore any news reports about new electricity tariff coming up on the 1st January 2024.

Despite NERC’s clarification that there was no plan to hike tariffs, Nigerians on social media expressed scepticism, saying the Discos might not wait for the commission before rolling out the new tariffs.

Some Nigerians said they had noticed an increase in the amount they pay for electricity lately.

Asked to react to the fears of Nigerians that the Discos might have carried out the tariff increase without NERC approval, Arabi replied: “DisCos are not allowed to charge any electricity tariff without the approval of NERC.”