Reps kick against electricity tariff increase

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The House of Representatives has urged the management of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to stop electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) from the planned upward review of electricity tariff.

NERC has also been asked to appear before a House panel to explain the justification for the planned review and how Nigerians would not be negatively affected.

Furthermore, to ensure that Nigerians get value for their money, the lawmakers have also directed NERC and DISCOs to immediately begin the provision and installation of prepaid meters to every consumer nationwide.

The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion by Solomon Maren (PDP, Plateau), who regretted that as a consequence of the comatose power generation and distribution system, many industries have collapsed.

Besides, the House resolved against further collection of flat  maintenance or service fees by the DISCOs which were termed illegal and not in tandem with best practices.

"It should be of concern that the NERC has directed all the DISCOs to comply with the directive for upward review of tariff  because there are attempts by the DISCOs to devise another way of collecting these monies under another guise.