JEDC proposes 10.5% electricity tariff increase

The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) has proposed a 10.5 per cent tariff increase.

Head, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Oluwashola Ajala, disclosed this on Wednesday in Jos, during a customers’ consultative forum, organised by the JEDC.

Ajala explained that it is pertinent to increase tariff, as it would lead to more investors showing interest in the power sector, which would, in the long run crash the electricity tariff.

He also said that the tariff hike has become necessary as the federal government, which has been subsidising electricity tariff has said that it would no longer do so, with an argument that it needs to channel such funds to more critical aspects of the economy.

Ajala explained that the increase in the cost of power generation of is also another factor responsible for the hike in electricity tariff, adding that the increase in tariff would also help in increasing the metering, creating new distribution substations and expanding network.

IDPs protest food shortage in Adamawa camp

The JEDC chief added that distribution companies were not enjoying the federal government’s subsidy, which he said is being paid to the power generating companies.

Customers present at the forum, decried the epileptic power supply and the outrageous estimated billing by JEDC, asking the firm to correct the anomalies in the sector before reviewing tariff.

A customer, Mrs. Mary Dung, who resides in Tudun Wada in Jos North, said that she has suffered from outrageous estimated billing by JEDC.

She said that it would be appropriate for the company to address the issue of estimated billing before considering tariff increase.