Fact Check: Claim that NERC increased electricity tariff by over 50% is false

Claim

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has approved 50 per cent hike in electricity tariff payable by customers of the 11 Distribution Companies, DisCos.

Verdict

The claim that the NERC increased the electricity tariff by over 50% is not true.

Issue

On Tuesday 5th of January 2020, several reports by different media platforms nationwide disclosed that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has increased the electricity tariff by 50%. However, this report was debunked by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission via a circular titled, PUBLIC NOTICE ON PURPORTED 50% INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY TARIFFS, released through their Twitter handle.

According to the circular, “The attention of the commission has been drawn to publications in the print and electronic media misinforming electricity consumers that the Commission has approved a 50% increase in electricity tariffs.

“The Commission hereby state unequivocally that NO approval has been granted for a 50% tariff increase in the Tariff Order for electricity distribution companies which took effect on January 1, 2021,” the circular added. 

Finding

Our Correspondent, who paid her electricity tariff via Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company in Ilorin confirmed the hike in the price to be 7% not 50% as reported by media platforms.  

According to the receipt,  N2,000 is paid for 68.98 units(KWH) today Tuesday 5th of January, 2020 as against 74.51(KWH) acquired for the same amount on the 17th of November, 2020. 

Conclusion 

The claim that NERC has approved the hike in electricity tariff by over 50% is false. However, our finding reveals that the increment is by 7%, 68.98 units for N2,000 as against 74.51 units that were acquired in the last three months of 2020 for the same amount.