On April 3, 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) increased the cost per unit of electricity for Nigerians in Band A from ₦68 to ₦225 per kilowatt-hour, which is about a 300% increase. Since then, most electricity consumers in Band A have been finding it difficult to pay their light bills because it is very costly for them.
In the middle of 2024, I was under Band A but after five months, I found out that my light bill was unexpectedly high, which made me struggle to pay it. After paying the high light bills for two extra months, I was unable to bear it again, which made me change to Band B. Since I switched to Band B, I have been enjoying my electricity supply at a very low cost. And guess what? I still enjoy light like I was used to when I was in Band A.
There are different ways that you can use to change from Band A to Band B, like by contacting your electricity distribution company and requesting a tariff band reassessment or changing your residential or business location, among others. We are going to discuss them in detail as we proceed with our discussion. Keep tabs!
What is Band A in electricity usage?
According to NERC, band A electricity consumers are those who normally have electricity between 20 and 24 hours daily. This means that to be under Band A, you must have at least 20 hours of regular electricity daily. Electricity consumers under Band A pay ₦225 per kilowatt-hour. If you are under Band A and you recharge ₦1000, you will only get 4.4 units of electricity.
What is Band B
Band B electricity consumers are those who enjoy 16 to 20 hours of electricity supply daily. To be under this band, you are expected to have at least 16 hours of uninterrupted power supply daily. Electricity consumers under Band B pay ₦63 per kilowatt-hour. This means that if you recharge ₦1000 under Band B, you will get 14 units, which is more than thrice what someone in Band A gets when they recharge the same amount. We can see that the difference is clear between Band A and Band B.
How to Know your Electricity Band
There are different ways that you can know your electricity band.
- Through your cost per unit of electricity
- If you are residing in commercial or industrial hub in your state, you may likely be in Band A
- Through your electricity distribution company’s official portal.
Why you Should Consider Changing from Band A to Band B
As an electricity consumer in Nigeria, there are so many reasons why you should change from Band A to Band B, especially if you are budget-conscious and still struggling financially.
Apart from that, if you don’t use electricity often to run your business, there is no need for you to be under band A because it is very costly, especially for those who have small-scale businesses. The major reason why you should consider changing from Band A to Band B are
- Band A is very costly.
- The 20 to 24 hours of regular power supply in band A is not guaranteed.
- Band A is not reliable; it is just like other electricity bands where there is always power failure.
- In band A, you even pay for energy you didn’t consume
- Band B is very cheap and you will enjoy almost the same hours of electricity as those in Band A.
These are some of the major reasons why you should consider changing from Band A to Band B.
How to Change from Band A to Band B if Your Light Bill is High
In the above sections, we made you understand what Band A & B mean in electricity distribution in Nigeria and also gave you some reasons why you should consider changing to Band B.
Now, if you want to change to Band B or even Band C, where you can enjoy electricity at a very low cost, then you need to pay attention to this section of our discussion.
1. Change your residential or business location.
The easiest way to switch from Band A to Band B is to change location. In each state across Nigeria, some areas are designated as Band A, especially the commercial or industrial hubs in those states. If you are living in a commercial area or major city in your state, there are chances that you are under band A.
This means that if you are living in your state capital or commercial hub in your state and your electricity bill is very high, you can change location and get an apartment in an urban area that is not the commercial hub. Apart from commercial hubs in different states, other developed areas in most states also have a steady power supply and most of these areas are grouped under Band B because they are not industrial areas.
If you relocate to an area in your state that is not a commercial hub, you will pay a lower electricity bill while you will still enjoy a steady power supply.
2. Contact your Electricity Distribution Company (Disco) and Request a Review of your tariff band.
If you are a property owner or you don’t want to relocate to another area but your light bill is high, you can reach out to your electricity distribution company (DisCo) and request a reassessment of your tariff band if you believe that your band is inaccurate.
If you are under band A but don’t normally have up to 20 hours of regular power supply daily, you can contact your DisCo and request a tariff band reassessment. If after the assessment your energy consumption is not up to the stipulated rate by the NERC, you may be changed to Band B, where you will continue to enjoy energy supply at a very low cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours of light is band B?
Hours of light for those in band B are between 16 and 20 hours of regular power supply daily. If you are in Band B, you are expected to enjoy a minimum of 16 hours of uninterrupted power supply daily.
How can I reduce my prepaid meter unit consumption?
You can reduce your prepaid meter unit consumption by adopting energy-efficient behaviors and changing from band A to band B.
What is the electricity tariff for Band B in Nigeria?
The electricity tariff for Band B in Nigeria is ₦63 per kilowatt-hour. They enjoy 16 to 20 hours of steady power supply daily.