From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
APL Electric Company Limited (APLE), Aba, Abia State, has explained its recent increase in electricity tariff, even as the power company has promised to continue to prioritise reliable and affordable power supply to her customers.
Speaking with newsmen at the power station’s plant at Osisioma, Aba, the Managing Director of APLE, Ugo Opiegbe, said his company received the order for tariff adjustment from the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) on December 30, 2024.
“In line with the regulatory framework established by NERC, we received the order for tariff adjustment on December 30, 2024, with an effective date of January 1, 2025. This adjustment for various customer classes reflects the current macroeconomic realities affecting the entire power sector.
Opiegbe explained that prior to the adjustment, the company called for customer engagement across the Aba ring-fence to discuss the issue.
He informed that the engagement, which was widely publicised, underscored the company’s commitment to open and transparent way of dealing with its customers.
Giving further explanation on the tariff adjustment, the APLE managing director, said Aba Power, unlike legacy distribution companies (DisCos), does not receive any form of subsidy or intervention from the federal government.
“As a 100 per cent privately owned DisCo, Aba Power operates independently without access to government subsidies. This means our operations are fully funded through the revenue we generate, making our tariff a true reflection of economic realities.
“As a result, the tariff we charge is entirely cost-reflective and directly linked to the actual costs of power generation, distribution and other operational expenses.
“While other DisCos implemented upward tariff adjustments as far back as April 2024, APPLE kept its rates unchanged for eight months, maintaining the lowest tariffs within our service area,” he said.