- Sanction defaulting DisCos
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has vowed to sanction electricity providers that fail to meet the 20-hour minimum daily power supply for Band A customers.
NERC officials made the vow while featuring on Electricity Town Hall, a radio programme, sponsored by the commission.
The officials noted that they would strictly monitor and automatic compensation for service failures, and a gradual expansion of improved supply to other customer bands.
They spoke on Service-Based Tariff (SBT) in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Speaking, a Principal Manager in NERC’s Economic Regulation Division, Olisa Chukwuma, said the framework was designed to align customers’ experiences with the tariff they pay.
He said: “The Commission designed this framework to ensure that what customers pay corresponds with the level of service they receive. The foundation of this policy is the availability of infrastructure to serve people.
“That’s why customers were classified into five broad categories, Band A guarantees a minimum of 20 hours of supply daily, Band B 16 hours, Band C 12 hours, Band D 8 hours, and Band E 4 hours.”
Chukwuma stated further that while the band structure was introduced in 2020, public interest only grew in 2024 when the differences between Band A and other categories became more apparent.
He also encouraged customers to verify their service bands through their electricity distribution companies’ (DisCos) websites.
“It’s now mandatory for all DisCos to have a portal where customers can input their meter or account numbers to see their feeder details and service band. This ensures transparency and helps customers monitor whether they’re getting the supply hours they’re entitled to.”
On his part, a Senior Manager in NERC’s Economic Regulation Division, Abdulaziz Aloba, said the Commission tracks DisCos’ performance daily and applies sanctions where necessary.
“If you’re a Band A customer, you are expected to get an average of 20 hours of supply daily in a month. Where a DisCo fails to meet that, customers are automatically compensated.
“If such failure persists for over seven days, that feeder is downgraded to the appropriate band that reflects the actual supply received,” he said.
He explained that NERC monitors power delivery using data from multiple sources, including the Nigerian System Operator (NSO) and Market Operator (MO), in addition to independent verification by the Commission.
In his contribution, a Deputy Manager in the Economic Regulation Division of the commission, Gbenga Osho, explained that customers can request migration to higher bands where infrastructure permits.
“Customers who want improved service can make formal representations to their DisCos and may copy the Commission for transparency. But migration is subject to available infrastructure. Service levels are tied to investment capacity, not just customer preference,” he said.