Distribution companies (DisCos) should expect protests and lawsuits if tariff goes up in October, the All Electricity Consumers Protection Forum (AECPF) has warned.

In a letter to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) dated August 30, AECPF said they were vehemently against any form of increment in tariffs by DisCos.

“We believe that your organisation is not oblivious of the provision of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 as it relates to the increase in the tariff process and steps to be taken.

“Let us reiterate that any increase in tariff announced without following such a process as mandated in Section 76(1) and 76 (2) (b) and (f) will be resisted by the consumers,” the national coordinator of the group, Adeola Samuel-Ilori said in the letter.

The group said even if given assurances by NERC and the DisCos that there would be no tariff hike, they would continue to maintain vigilance by monitoring customer’s bills for October.

AECPF said DisCos had not met the provision for tariff increment, especially in investment in infrastructure upgrade to improve the quality of power supply to Nigerians.