Nigerians have been urged to pay their electricity bills promptly to ensure regular power supply.
The umbrella body of the 11 power distribution companies in Nigeria (DISCO), the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributor (ANED) made the call in Lagos on Monday.
The group’s Executive Director (Research and Advocacy), Sunday Oduntan went further that the non-payment of electricity tarriffs would worsen the irregular power supply in Nigeria.
The association said it was from the monthly electricity bills paid by Nigerians that DISCOs have to pay the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) for electricity supplies that they received.
“NBET also pays the Generating Companies (GENCO) who have to pay their gas suppliers (Thermal).
“DISCOs will pay the market operator which is Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and other stakeholders for the various services that they provide.
“Consequently, if Nigerians don’t pay their bills, it starves the entire electricity value chain of the funds needed to power it.
He added that “lack of funds leads to poor or no electricity supply, the potential failure of the power sector and related mass unemployment and diminished prospects for national economic growth.”
Oduntan said that non-payment means that our aspiration for 24-7 power supply would continue to be just an aspiration. “Not paying bills, by bypassing or stealing electricity means that it costs legitimate customers more to receive electricity supply.” according to him.
