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The cold season in Jos, roughly the Harmattan months from late in the year into the new year, adds costs for electric or gas heating, warm clothing and bedding, and colds and chest problems. As a worked example, a 2,000-watt heater run four hours a day uses 8 kWh, about ₦1,676 a day on JED Band A at ₦209.50/kWh (NERC order effective July 2025). Plan these costs from September rather than meeting them all in December.
Jos sits high on the Plateau and is widely known as one of the coolest cities in Nigeria, especially during the Harmattan, when dry, dusty winds bring cold mornings and nights. For households that moved from warmer cities, the cold season can be a budget surprise: a heater, thicker blankets, sweaters for the children and more trips to the chemist all arrive at the same time as Christmas spending. This guide shows how to estimate each cost.
Heating: electricity and the meter
Electric heaters are simple but use a lot of power. Your cost depends on the heater's wattage, the hours you run it, and the tariff band your feeder is on. NERC's July 2025 supplementary order for Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) sets these non-maximum-demand tariffs, which were still the latest JED order we found in October 2026:
| Band | Allowed tariff (₦/kWh, non-MD) | Minimum supply set by NERC |
|---|---|---|
| A | 209.50 | 20 hours a day |
| B | 63.26 | 16 hours |
| C | 52.83 | 12 hours |
| D | 40.12 | 8 hours |
| E | 39.90 | 4 hours |
Worked example: one heater
A 2,000-watt fan heater run for four hours each evening uses 8 kWh a day (2 kW × 4 hours). On Band A that costs about ₦1,676 a day (8 × ₦209.50), or about ₦50,280 over 30 days. On Band B the same use costs about ₦506 a day (8 × ₦63.26), or about ₦15,182 a month. These are examples before VAT or any charges, and they assume power is available when you need it. A smaller 1,000-watt oil-filled radiator on a thermostat, run for the same hours, would roughly halve the figures.
When the grid is off
Running a heater from a petrol or diesel generator is costly and dangerous indoors. For a sense of scale, the National Bureau of Statistics recorded an average diesel price in Plateau of ₦1,743.65 per litre in October 2024, among the highest in the country at the time. Fuel prices have moved since, so check today's pump price. Never run a generator, charcoal stove or gas heater in a closed room: carbon monoxide kills without warning.
Hot water for bathing
Many Jos households also heat bathing water in the cold months, by electric kettle, immersion heater or on a gas cooker. As an example, a 1,500-watt immersion heater used for 40 minutes a day uses 1 kWh (1.5 kW × 2/3 hour), about ₦209.50 a day on Band A or ₦63.26 on Band B. Gas used for the same job comes out of the cooking cylinder, so expect to refill it sooner than in the rest of the year and add that refill to your plan.
Warm clothing and bedding
Clothing is a one-off cost that lasts several seasons if bought well. Second-hand jackets, sweaters and duvets are widely sold in Jos markets, and buying in September or October, before demand peaks, usually gives more choice. As an illustrative budget for a family of four:
| Item (illustrative) | Quantity | Example cost (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Sweaters or jackets | 4 | 24,000 |
| Thick blankets or duvets | 2 | 30,000 |
| Socks, caps and gloves | 4 sets | 10,000 |
| Hot-water flask for tea | 1 | 8,000 |
| Total | 72,000 |
These are example figures to help you plan, not market prices; ask at least two sellers before buying.
Health costs
Cold, dry air and dust are commonly linked to colds, sore throats, cracked skin and flare-ups of asthma. Budget for a small medicine cupboard (paracetamol, a moisturiser or petroleum jelly, lozenges) and for at least one clinic visit. A health insurance plan reduces the risk of a large bill: the Plateau State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) was set up by a 2019 state law and announced four plans, including an equity plan for vulnerable groups such as children under five, pregnant women and people over 60. See our guide to hospitals in Jos and PLASCHEMA.
Putting it together
Worked example: monthly cold-season add-on
A Band B household running one 2,000-watt heater four hours a day (₦15,182 a month), spreading ₦72,000 of clothing over three cold months (₦24,000 a month) and setting aside ₦10,000 a month for health, adds about ₦49,182 a month to its normal budget (₦15,182 + ₦24,000 + ₦10,000). The same household on Band A would add about ₦84,280 (₦50,280 + ₦24,000 + ₦10,000). Saving the clothing money from September and buying early spreads the load.
- Start a separate savings pot in September for the cold months.
- Buy clothing and bedding before December.
- Choose a thermostat heater and heat one room, not the whole house.
- Seal gaps under doors and windows with cloth: cheap and effective.
- Keep a basic medicine kit at home.
For a full monthly budget, see cost of living in Jos, and for how your tariff is set, JED tariff bands.
Where Pryme fits
A Fixed or Flexible Savings Box in the Pryme app lets you set aside cold-season money from September; rates are shown in the app before you choose. You can also buy JED tokens under electricity and see each purchase on its own line, which makes it easier to see what the heater is costing.
Questions people ask
When is the cold season in Jos?
The coldest period is during the Harmattan, commonly from about November into February, with the coldest mornings and nights around December and January. It varies from year to year.
How much does it cost to run a heater in Jos?
As an example, a 2,000-watt heater for four hours a day uses 8 kWh: about ₦1,676 a day on JED Band A (₦209.50/kWh) or about ₦506 on Band B (₦63.26/kWh), before VAT, using NERC's July 2025 JED order.
Is a gas heater safe indoors?
Only one designed for indoor use, in a ventilated room, and never while you sleep. Never use charcoal or a generator inside: carbon monoxide can kill.
Where can I buy cheap warm clothes in Jos?
Second-hand clothing is widely sold in Jos markets. Buying in September or October usually gives more choice before demand rises.
Sources
- NERC: July 2025 Supplementary Order to MYTO 2024, Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (ORDER/NERC/2025/065) · accessed Oct 2026
- NBS: Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel) Price Watch, October 2024 · accessed Oct 2026
- Blueprint: Plateau healthcare contributory agency to commence enrolment, DG (3 Mar 2020) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.