Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria are facing scrutiny as they fail to meet the mandated power supply requirements for Band A customers, as directed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Following NERC's approval of an electricity tariff increase for Band A customers on April 3, from N66 to N225, DisCos were expected to provide a minimum of 20 hours of power supply per day. However, transparency and accountability measures were put in place, requiring DisCos to publish reasons for failing to meet the committed service level if it persists for two consecutive days.
Four DisCos, including Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDC), and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), acknowledged their inability to meet the required daily supply and provided reasons such as system outages and technical issues.
NERC urged DisCos to prioritize metering for Band A customers, aiming to address the issue of unmetered customers on premium band feeders. As DisCos strive to rectify these challenges, the plight of Band A customers and the broader implications on Nigeria's electricity landscape remain under scrutiny.
