Aba Power Defends Recent Tariff Adjustment: Says Their Operational Dynamics is Different from Legacy Discos

Following the recent upward tariff adjustment by Aba Power Electric Company Limited (APLE), as approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), APLE held a press conference on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The conference aimed to address the numerous misinformation circulating among individuals and groups.

Some individuals had formed the Aba Electricity Consumers Forum and the Joint Action Group (JAG) of Aba, raising concerns about non-consultation with customers before the tariff hike and inadequate supply relative to the bills paid. In response, APLE’s Managing Director, Ugo Opiegbe, clarified that these allegations stemmed from either ignorance or deliberate misinformation.

Opiegbe emphasized that the company followed the due process, as stipulated by NERC. “We conducted extensive consultations as required by NERC and defended the tariff before independent interveners,” he explained. “It’s surprising that people claim nobody knew about the tariff adjustment, given that we’re a licensed entity by NERC and adhere to due process.”

In the APLE press statement titled “Understanding APLE’s Tariff Adjustment,” dated January 29, 2025, the Managing Director reiterated that the company is fully private and doesn’t enjoy government subsidies or interventions. The tariff adjustment reflects the current macroeconomic realities affecting the power sector.

Opiegbe also clarified that, contrary to claims of a one-sided decision, Aba Power engaged customers for days before the tariff took effect. The company displayed pictures of these engagements at different locations.

Regarding postpaid customers’ complaints about overbilling, APLE’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Engr. Blessing Ogbe, stated that the company’s billing adheres strictly to NERC rules. “Your energy intake is monitored by three entities: us, the market operator, and regulators,” he explained. “Aba Power is the only DisCo that hasn’t been penalized for violating the capping methodology of billing.”

The COO advised customers to adapt to the new reality by managing energy consumption, budgeting for power, and reporting vandalism to help secure assets.

The company decried rising vandalism cases, which hamper their functionality, and urged the public to help safeguard their facilities for better service and supply. APLE assured that they are working to provide the best services to their customers.