Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), had increased it’s tariff by 13 per cent, saying that the recent minor electricity tariff adjustment reflected current economic realities in the country and was necessary to keep the electricity industry alive.
EEDC’s Head, Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in Enugu on Sunday. He spoke based on the complaints by some customers over the surprise increase in tariff per kilowatt they noticed which cuts across all categories of customers within the company’s network franchise area in the South-East.
Ezeh said that the tariff rate for Non-MD customers under R2SB class increased from N58.47 to N66.47 per kilowatt.
He said that the minor adjustment, which took effect from Dec. 1, 2022, was approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) some months ago across all electricity distribution companies in the country.
He said: “The minor increase in the rate of tariff approved by NERC is for Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCOs) to meet up with the current economic realities in the power/electricity sector.
“Currently, the sector is seriously affected by the high inflationary rate in the country; as it affects our daily operational maintenance and services to our esteemed customers in our network.
“The issue of high foreign exchange rate is affecting our business too in terms of importing most of our spare parts needed for daily maintenance and repairs in the network.
“The high foreign exchange rate also impact on EEDC ever increasing investment on installations to further expand and fortify the network, leading to the improved services customers are experiencing within the South-East.”
Ezeh appealed for the understanding of customers, adding that if the indices mentioned and other factors “turn positive tomorrow; we belief that NERC will review the tariff downwards”.
“The recent development is for us to remain in business, service our customers better and maintain obligations to other stakeholders within the sector/industry,” he said.
Customers within EEDC network in Enugu have continued to complain that the increase is already tightening the existing economic hardship.
Jude Eneh, a resident of Uwani, Joy Oduji, resident of Abakpa and Emeka Nwankwo redident of Ugwuaji, wondered why EEDC should increase the tariff at this hard times. They urged EEDC to consider the lower class and exclude them from the increase as they cannot meet up They hardly feed.