Many electricity users in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are urging the federal government to reconsider the recently implemented tariff hike in order to prevent incidents of electricity theft.
Business owners, who are the main consumers, expressed their concerns to journalists on Wednesday, warning that if electricity prices remain high, some users may resort to bypass their meters.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently announced an increase in electricity tariffs for Band A customers, raising the rate from N68 per kWh to N225 per kWh.
Band A customers are defined as those who receive electricity supply for at least 20 hours per day.
The consumers, mainly printers, who operate mainly at UTC and Murg Plaza in Area 10, FCT, said that they use heavy equipment in doing their jobs; hence, their electricity consumption is high.
According to them, if they have to pay N225/KWh, their jobs will be greatly affected, making it difficult for them cope with the present economic situation in the country.
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Amos Okolo, a printer, said that it was good that government plans to give them 20 hours of electricity in the new tariff but the cost is too high for any business person.
Mr Okolo said that by the time he purchases electricity with the huge money, nothing would be left in his business to cater for his family.
”I am appealing to the government to review the tariff downward, as such an increase can lead to some consumers bypassing their metres, and this is not good for Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC),” he said.
On his part, Samuel Kolawole, also a printer, said that the cost indicated in the new tariff was so high that it could negatively impact businesses.
He said that the government should try and reduce the tariff so that it can benefit the rich and the poor.
According to him, 20 hours of electricity is good for business owners as this will reduce the cost of buying fuel or diesel for generators, but the pricing should be business-friendly.
”We are appealing to government to reduce the tariff to what we can afford so as to benefit everyone,” he said.
