Headlines about electricity access usually count one thing: whether a community is connected to the grid. That misses half the picture.
Two kinds of gap
| Unserved | Underserved | |
|---|---|---|
| Grid connection | None | Poles and wires exist |
| Power supply | No grid power at all | A few hours a day, often at low voltage |
| How people cope | Generators, torches, phone-charging shops | Generators to fill the long gaps |
| Mini-grid type | Isolated mini-grid | Interconnected mini-grid |
What the tariff bands tell us
NERC groups grid customers into service bands by how many hours of supply their feeder is expected to deliver each day. Band A customers should get at least 20 hours. At the bottom, Band D and Band E feeders are expected to deliver as little as 8 and 4 hours.
A community on a Band E feeder is connected on paper, but for most of the day it is just as dependent on generators as a village with no grid at all.
Why underserved areas get left behind
Distribution companies have limited money to upgrade their networks. They usually invest first where demand and revenue are highest. Smaller towns and rural feeders tend to wait the longest.
Two kinds of solution
- Isolated mini-grids for unserved communities: a solar and battery system with its own local network, operating independently of the national grid.
- Interconnected mini-grids for underserved communities: local generation added within a DisCo's network, under an agreement between the developer, the DisCo and the community.
Nigeria's mini-grid regulations recognise both models, which means developers can serve communities whether or not grid lines have reached them.
Sources and notes
- Service-based tariff bands and mini-grid regulations: Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
- Rural electrification programmes: Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
- This article is educational and not legal or regulatory advice.