NERC affirms consumers are not to buy, repair transformer, pole, others
Story from ABAH ADAH, Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has affirmed that it is set not the responsibility of electricity consumers to buy or repair transformer, pole or any other assets, but that of the service providers – Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos).
Mrs Aisha Mahmud, Commissioner Consumers Affairs (NERC) stated this in Abuja at the three-day NERC/ Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) Customer Complaint Resolution Meeting.
Over the years in Nigeria, the trend of customers acquiring or repairing those components on their own has been an issue, leading to blame game between the DisCos and their concerned customers. The operators would say they didn’t ask anybody to invest in the network, whereas the customers would say they had no choice as the DisCo was not forthcoming.
Mahmud said, “It is not the responsibility of the consumers to buy meters, poles or any assets for the DisCos because we have already provided for that in the tariff of the utilities.
“But under any circumstances that you have to purchase these item and you cannot wait for the DisCos to make that investment, we have made provision for that under our “Investment Regulation.”
She said the commission came up with a regulation called investment in the network and based on that, if a customer has to purchase a transformer, it has to be done through an agreement.
According to her, the consumer has to sign an agreement with the DisCos stating when and how the consumer will be refunded the cost of that transformer.
“ The agreement should contain dispute resolution clause and all other items that are expected of a standard agreement.
“What we expect from the DisCo is to use their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to buy those assets or rather use shareholders’ investment or borrow from the banks to purchase those assets
“ In the event that they are not able to buy those assets, customers can come in and they have to be refunded.
“So what the consumers don’t know is that regulation exists and they go about making all sorts of investment which DisCos say is a donation to them because there is no agreement, ‘’ she said.
The commissioner said it was part of NERC’s responsibility to also educate customers on their right and obligation and all they are supposed to know about the electricity market.
She said the commission realised that most consumers in Nigeria did not know about the existence of the regulator; they don’t know their right, they have a lot of rights that they are not aware of.
“It is our duty to tell them that it is their right to get a meter as Discos are not doing you any favour to issue you a meter,” she said.
Mahmud said that NERC’s mandate was also to educate the consumers on their responsibilities such as the issue of meter, bypass or tempering with meters.
“They should know that the Discos are just merely collection agents and the revenue they collect is not entirely their own as they have to pay gas suppliers.
“Pay the Transmission Company (TCN) and the generation companies so customers should know that once they touch the utilities they are also shortchanging themselves, ‘’she said.
On his part, Mr Yusuf Ali, Commissioner Planning Research and Strategy, (NERC) said that the forum was an opportunity for customers voice to be heard and their right upheld.
Alli said that most times the complaints NERC got from customers was that when they complained to DisCos, the resolution took too long.
“ But with this forum, the expectation is that complaints will be resolved quickly, ‘’ he said.
The Managing Director of AEDC, Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi, said that AEDC was committed to meeting their customers’ demand.
Represented by Mrs Olajumoke Delonia. Head Regulatory and Government Relation AEDC, Fadeyibi said the idea of the forum was to address customers’ complaints, as he commended NERC for the initiative.
“AEDC is prepared to look into the complaints of their customers quickly, ‘’ he assured.