The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said many factors are responsible for tariff review in the country bi-annually.

A statement by Dr Usman Arab, NERC’s Head of Public Affairs, in Abuja said the allegation that the commission always sided with operators on tariff issues was not true.

Arab said one of the duties of NERC was to protect the interest of consumers and investors on electricity pricing and supply.

According to him, by law NERC is mandated to provide a cost reflective tariff for the operators based on prudent costs.

“NERC has never at anytime stated that only an increase in electricity tariff will guarantee steady power supply in the country.

“The commission has maintained that the further increase in tariff was not imminent given the present economic recession in Nigeria,” it said.

He also said the poor remittance level by DisCo’s, multiple restraining orders from the courts as a result of litigations had also checked the increase in tariff.

He said that pricing methodology mandated the commission to carry out a minor review of the tariff bi-annually and adjust the exogenous factors that were beyond the control of the investors and the regulators.