NERC says electricity distribution companies get punished for unwholesome practices

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said that some Electricity distribution companies in Nigeria have been involved in unwholesome practices and were punished for over-billing customers.

The Deputy General Manager, Consumer Affairs of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC,  Shittu Shuaibu said the problem resulted from the inability of the Discos to meet up with the metering demands.

He was speaking on the anti-corruption programme, Public Conscience on radio, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG).

Shuaibu said the gap in the distribution of meters has widened to fifty-seven percent, up from the fifty percent that was the case as at the time the Nigerian power agency, PHCN, transformed into distribution companies, DISCOs.

He blamed this on increase in the population of consumers and advised customers to always lodge written complaints with his commission any time they consider they have genuine reason to.

Shuaibu told electricity consumers that if they do not report their complaints, such complaints would stay with them and said NERC has had to compel DISCOs to refund over-billing to customers and with a written apology.

He further blamed the issues in the metering process on what he termed the huge funds needed to procure meters which could lead to manipulation and said government had subsidized the process at a stage.

He said the credited advance payment for metering implementation Capmi project has been introduced; a process by which consumers pay for and procure meters and recoup their expenses in the form of electricity units.

Public Conscience on radio is produced by the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development PRIMORG with support from the Macarthur Foundation.

Source: PRIMORG