The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved a special compensation package for eligible Band A electricity customers who experienced poor power supply due to generation constraints on the national grid between February and March 2026. In a public notice shared on its social media platforms on Thursday, NERC attributed the disruptions to significant generation shortfalls across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry during the first quarter of the year. The commission issued Directive No. NERC/2026/002, titled the Special Compensation of Band A Customers Arising from Grid Generation Constraints, to formalize the redress. NERC stated the directive was introduced "in recognition of the significant generation shortfalls experienced across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry between February and March 2026, which affected the ability of distribution companies to meet the committed service levels for some Band A customers". The commission noted that the power supply issues were largely due to factors outside the direct control of electricity distribution companies. Specifically, inadequate gas supply and vandalism of critical gas and transmission infrastructure were cited as primary causes. The compensation applies only to customers in Band A, a category of consumers with guaranteed minimum service levels under their tariff agreements. Details on the exact amount and method of disbursement were not disclosed in the notice. NERC urged affected customers to monitor official channels for updates on eligibility and claims procedures. The commission reiterated its commitment to enforcing service standards while acknowledging external challenges affecting power delivery.
A compensation package has been approved for Band A customers despite the fact that the same group has consistently received higher service guarantees that most Nigerians do not enjoy. NERC blames gas shortages and vandalism for the supply failure, yet these are recurring issues that have not triggered systemic fixes in over a decade. The move rewards a privileged tier of consumers while the majority endure constant outages without contractual recourse. This disparity underscores a two-tier electricity system where accountability applies only to a select few.
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