… Power supply by GENCOs in 2019 average 32,799,114MWh — NBS
By Ediri Ejoh
There are indications that despite the pronouncement of the suspension of the new tariff by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, on Tuesday, the directive has not been implemented as bills paid yesterday to the Nigeria Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, remained at the new rate.
Recall that the regulator had approved the hike in tariff which kicked off in September 1, 2020, but under the pressure from the organized labour union an interim reversal was ordered earlier in the week by the government.
Vanguard gathered that customers, who had recharged their prepaid meter across the country yesterday, were forced to pay the new cost reflective tariff issued in September 1, 2020.
The DISCOs, who confirmed this situation, said the directive was given on Tuesday and modalities for the implementation would need time.
They noted that such was not applicable to post paid meter customers who are been served bills for August which carried the old rate and not September.
A statement NERC noted that the suspension was issued on Tuesday September 29, stressing that it had officially suspended the electricity tariff hike.
READ ALSO: Suspension of electricity tarrif increase in public interest – NERC
The regulator issued Order No. NERC/209/2020 around 10.30 pm on Tuesday; with the title, “NERC Order on suspension of the Multi-Year Tariff Order 2020 for the electricity distribution licensees.”
The order was co-signed by the NERC Chairman, James Momoh, and the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye.
However, the Commission stated: “This order shall take effect from 28th September (Monday) 2020, and shall cease to have an effect on the 11th October 2020.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday revealed that the power generation statistics for 2019 reflected that a total of 33,448,633 MWh of energy was generated by power stations.
The NBS report stated that GENCOs generated 19,692,683 MWh, IPP generated 7,798,253 MWh while the NIPP generated 5,957,697MWh. However, Egbin recorded the highest energy generation with 3,786,313MWh accounting for 11.32 percent while Alaoji NIPP recorded the lowest with 209,453MWh accounting for 0.63 percent of total energy generated in 2019.
Total Energy sent out by GENCOs in 2019 stood at 32,799,114MWh. GENCOs sent out 19,233,151 MWh, IPP GENCOs sent out 7,648,700 MWh while the NIPP sent out 5,917,262 MWh. Energy consumed by the Eleven DISCOs in 2019 stood at 28,026,503 MWh, Ikeja DISCO recorded the highest energy consumption with 4,087,971 MWh accounting for 14.95 percent while Yola DISCOo recorded the lowest with 1,122,534MWh accounting for 4 percent of total energy consumed in 2019. Cross Border Electricity Transactions showed that Benin and the Niger Republic were supplied a total of 1,278,344MWh and 1,048,807MWh of electricity respectively.
