The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is set to enhance power supply to domestic consumers following its orders directing the System Operator (SO) to cap supplies to international customers by 6 per cent of domestic supplies.
The affected countries include Togo, Benin Republic and the Niger Republic.
The development comes amid a high level of indebtedness and non-remittance of electricity bills supplied to the countries over the years.
Nigeria sells electricity to neighboring countries such as Benin Republic, Togo, and Benin under the international treaty.
According to NERCâs 2023 quarter one report, the three countries owe Nigeria a combined N22.55 billion in electricity debt.
NERC stated that the non-payment of debts owed by international and bilateral customers continues a pattern that could cause the operator to invoke the provisions of the market rules to curtail the payment indiscipline displayed by those countries.
A NERC order of April 29, 2024, says the directive will last for six months in the first instance before the review from May 1, 2024.
Leadership reports that NERC’s interim cap order on international customers aims to reduce the impact on domestic generating companiesâ supply obligations.
Nigeria supplies a part of the electricity it generates to some neighboring countries, such as Togo, the Benin Republic, and the Niger Republic.
Reports say the NERC order mandates that the countries’ power supply must not exceed six percent of the total grid electricity at any time.
TimesNow.com.ng previously reported that the federal government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has announced an increment in the electricity tariff, which customers under the band A classification will have to pay.
Musliu Oseni, the vice chairman of the NERC, made the increment known at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, April 3.
Oseni said customers would now have to pay N225 kilowatt per hour instead of N66, which was being paid previously.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
