Barely one week after the new tariff regime which increased electricity tariff by 231 per cent for category A consumers, there are indications that the electricity supply capacity is grossly inadequate to meet the 20 hours per day minimum benchmark for the new tariff while accommodating another category of consumers.
The 11 Electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos, operating in the electricity sector were yesterday, allocated just 3,236 megawatts, MW, thus constraining them from delivering a minimum of 20 hours of power supply to consumers under ban A nationwide.
Media findings show that this has been the average supply before the tariff jerk-up and no improvement has been made since the new tariff came into force last week.
The new Multi-Year Tariff Order, MYTO, that raised electricity rates for about two million customers by 231 percent to N255 per kilowatt, from N68 per kilowatt, Vanguard findings further show, is running under power generation stranded at 4,200 Megawatts in the past seven days.
Information in the data supplied by Independent System Operator, ISO, showed that as at 3pm, yesterday, load allocation to the eleven DisCos which stood at 3,236 Megawatts, gave Abuja Disco the highest allocation at 611MW, followed by Ikeja Electric (603MW), Eko DisCo (513MW), Ibadan DisCo (323MW), Benin DisCo (219MW), and Enugu DisCo (193MW).
Others were Port Harcourt DisCo (191MW), Kano DisCo (181MW), Kaduna Electric (174MW), Jos DisCo (152MW) and Yola DisCo (76MW).
The shortfall in supply has prompted some DisCos to appease their customers with Port Harcourt DisCo issuing public apologies.
PHEDC apologises for shortfall
The PHEDC in a statement titled ‘Service shortfall’ said: “Kindly note the current service shortfall experienced in areas where we did not meet up with the contractual supply hours on 8th of April, 2024”.
The company listed the affected feeders as Amika and Refinery lines with areas such MM Highway, Mariam road, Rumukwurushi, Aweto Guest House, Atali, Igwuruta Road, Rumuibekwe-Bori road, Ahoada road, Ogbonda, Aba-Road,
