By Peter Omopo
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed nine electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to compensate Band A customers across 557 streets for failing to meet the minimum power supply threshold in April 2025.
Under the revised Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for April, NERC mandated the DisCos to either provide electricity credit or ensure improved power supply to affected customers connected to 152 feeders that underperformed during the review period.
Band A customers are entitled to a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily and pay the highest tariffs. However, many have complained about erratic service despite a tariff hike of over 300 percent approved by the commission in April 2024.
The affected DisCos include Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.
NERC, in its directive, said the compensation was in line with the service-based tariff framework and provisions outlined in its “Order on Migration of Customers and Compensation for Service Failure.”
The regulator also ordered AEDC to downgrade specific feeders that failed to deliver the mandated power supply and to compensate affected customers accordingly.
This move by NERC follows growing frustration among Band A customers, who have decried the poor service despite paying premium rates, which have negatively impacted households and businesses already grappling with rising costs.
