Higher tariff worsens MDAs’ electricity backlog, threatens supply

Debt owed by Ministries Departments and Agencies to electricity distribution companies has spiked following the increase in electricity tariff for customers under band A.

Indeed, some DisCos have disconnected some of the institutions, which is already causing unrest among students amidst the reoccurring collapse of the national grid.

“We were able to deploy that because we knew that we needed to go green, renewable energy, other areas of the hospital were powered with diesel, nobody died because there was no light, we were operating and very efficient though the number cannot be as much as when we had our light fully on the grid but we were able to function well but at a cost of buying diesel, we are happy to be back on the grid,” he said.

However, The Kano Electricity Distribution Company has reconnected power to Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, following the payment of N100 million.

During a podcast titled: “National Grid Collapses For The 6th Time in 2024 – Challenges and Way” on X social media platform, Energy Consultant Dr Hamisu Dandajeh, emphasised that the current generation capacity is inadequate to meet the needs of all Nigerians, suggesting that even providing Bands A customers with 20 to 24 hours of supply is not assured due to these constraints.

NERC had in January said the Federal government would pay N1.6 trillion to subsidise electricity this year. However, the Executive Director at PowerUp Initiatives For Electricity Rights, Adetayo Adegbemle, told The Guardian that the N1.6 trillion was for subsidy of those on Band B and below.

He mentioned that none of the reports clearly stated their bills before the subsidy removal for Band A, how much diesel these institutions were purchasing, or whether they were receiving Band A supplies. He believes these reports are insufficient to determine if there has been a significant impact on these institutions.

Source: News Formal