FCCPC urges Nigerians to report poor power supply under tariff bands

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has defended the electricity tariff band system while admitting that many consumers are not receiving the minimum hours of power supply tied to their tariff classifications.

Officials of the Commission spoke on Thursday during a media briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where they addressed consumer protection issues across key sectors including electricity.

The Executive Commissioner for Operations, Louis Odion, clarified that the FCCPC is not a price control agency but is primarily responsible for ensuring that consumers are not subjected to exploitative pricing or unfair practices.

“We are not a price control agency, but our responsibility is to ensure that consumers are not exploited through the pricing of goods and services,” Odion said. “The electricity sector remains one of the areas where Nigerian consumers face significant challenges.”

He explained that under the current electricity tariff structure, Band A customers who pay premium rates are expected to receive a minimum of 20 hours of electricity supply daily, while Band B customers are entitled to at least 16 hours.

However, he acknowledged that these service levels are not always met and encouraged affected consumers to file formal complaints to enable regulatory action.

“Consumers must make formal complaints where they do not receive the promised hours of electricity. Our operations are evidence-based, and without documented complaints, it becomes difficult for the Commission to act,” he said.

Odion added that some areas classified under Band A have not officially reported service shortfalls despite claims of inadequate supply.