Tag: DISCOs

Electricity tariff hike: NLC, TUC picket DisCos offices nationwide

Aminu Imam
NLC TUC

…Says new tariff capable of destroying Nigeria’s economy Organised Labour, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday stormed offices of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) nationwide to protest against the recent hike in electricity tariff. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who led the protest at NERC ’s headquarters in Abuja, said Nigerians are currently wallowing in power poverty, given the abysmal low supply of electricity. Recall that the NLC, TUC and their affiliates, vowed to ground…

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FG orders sale of failed KEDCO, AEDC, Benin, Kaduna DisCos, unbundles 11 others

Aminu Imam
FG on DisCos

Power distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria are currently being unbundled along State lines due to their large sizes that often result in efficiency and ineffectiveness, the Federal Government declared on Monday. It stated that the privatisation of the firms would not be reversed, but stressed that the DisCos would be broken into more efficient structures along State lines so as to be able to deliver on their mandates. This came as the Federal Government also ordered the sale of DisCos that have been taken over by banks and the Assets…

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DisCos fail to provide 20 hrs of power to Band-A customers

Aminu Imam
DisCos

…Blame ‘system outages’  Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have started publishing their inability to meet the required power supply as directed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC). Recall that on April 3, NERC approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers under Band-A classification, from N66 to N225. Under Band A, customers are entitled to a minimum of 20 hours of power supply per day and all DisCos have been authorised to implement the policy immediately. However, to ensure transparency and accountability, NERC said where the DisCo fails to deliver on…

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FG issues 13 new Power Generation, Distribution licences

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has issued 13 new licences for the generation of off-grid and embedded power, independent electricity distribution, as well as for the trading of electricity. The NERC said the new licences were issued in the third quarter of 2023, as the cumulative quantum of electricity to be generated by the licensees was 40.9 megawatts (MWs). Providing further explanation on the 13 new power generation, distribution and trading licences, the NERC in its report stated that Daybreak Power Solutions Limited received eight…

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FG transfers 40% shares in DisCos from BPE to MOFI

Aminu Imam

In a surprising move, the Federal Government has transferred its 40 percent shareholding in electricity distribution companies (DisCos) from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to the Ministry of Finance (MOFI). According to reports, Minister of Finance and Coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, in the Order, dated January 10, directed the Board of directors of the MOFI to assume ownership, control, and management of all equity holdings of the Federal Government’s 11 DisCos. Edun also directed MOFI to “Assume ownership, control, and management of all equity holding of…

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“We’ll revoke licences of underperforming DisCos, GenCos” – Minister

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has revealed that it has no intention of renewing licensing agreements for underperforming electricity distribution and generation companies (GenCos & DisCos) in Nigeria. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu disclosed this yesterday, while speaking during the commencement of the three-day inaugural Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, Market Participants and Stakeholders Roundtable (NMPSR) in Abuja. He expressed regret over the fact that, a decade after the privatisation of the power sector in November 2013, the operators have been unable to fulfill the set objectives. Adelabu insisted that for…

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Kano DisCo gets new owners as Kaduna’s faces license revocation

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), has extended its threat to cancel the licence of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, (KAEDCO), for another 30 days to fashion out ways to settle its N51billion underpayment to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, (NESI). NERC, in an advertorial signed by one of its commissioners, Dafe Akpeneye, dated July 19, stated that core investors of KAEDCO, Afrexim Bank and Fidelity Bank, did not give a satisfactory note on ways to sustain the financial viability of the company. Recall that the regulator had in May given…

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Electricity Tariff Hike looms, as Discos apply for rate review

Aminu Imam

Eleven successor electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have applied for a review of their respective electricity tariffs, the Federal Government has disclosed. Disclosing this through a notice published by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday, the Federal Government said the request for rate review is premised on the need to incorporate changes in macroeconomic parameters and other factors affecting the quality of service, operations and sustainability of the companies. In the notice, the NERC stated that DisCos request for rate review is in pursuant to Section 116 (1) and 2(a&b)…

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Electricity Tariff Hike: As NERC, DisCos play hide and seek, Nigerians in panic bulk-energy buying

Aminu Imam

Confusing signals emanating from electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the country and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) are keeping electricity consumers on edge. Unsure of the conflicting signals from the regulator and the DisCos., many Nigerians are making panic bulk energy purchases. Recall that on June 22nd, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) announced that there would be an upward review of the electricity tariff effective July 2023. The tariff increase, the company said, was influenced by the fluctuating exchange rate. The company also encouraged customers with prepaid meter…

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‘Stopping prepaid meters customers from buying unlimited energy is illegal’ – FCCPC to DisCos

Aminu Imam

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has stated that distribution companies’ customers have the right to vend energy if they want to. The notice from the FCCPC came as a result of the vending constraints experienced by customers in the franchise area of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), Customers were unable to purchase electricity tokens or units for prepaid meters. The FCCPC says it is actively working with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and IKEDC to address these complaints and resolve any issues with vending or purchasing…

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