The Enugu State Government has raised concerns over accountability in the classification of electricity tariffs, particularly for customers placed under the Band A category who are expected to receive at least 20 hours of electricity daily.
The concern was raised during a stakeholders’ engagement on electricity supply held in Enugu, where state officials questioned the transparency of the band classification system introduced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.
Under the tariff framework, electricity consumers are grouped into Bands A to E based on the number of hours of power they are expected to receive each day.
Customers in Band A pay the highest tariff because they are supposed to enjoy a minimum of 20 hours of electricity supply.
However, the Enugu State Government said “many residents classified under Band A have continued to experience poor electricity supply that falls far below the expected hours, raising questions about the basis for the classification”.
Officials noted that consumers should not be made to pay higher tariffs without receiving the level of power supply promised under the band system.
The state therefore called for greater transparency and accountability from electricity distribution companies and regulators to ensure that tariff classifications accurately reflect the quality and duration of electricity supplied to consumers.
