Epileptic electricity supply: NERC releases rights of consumers

By A’isha Raji

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in a bid to meet the yearnings of Nigerians for stable electricity supply has listed rights of consumers and steps of lodging complaints to the commission for proper verdicts.

In a statement signed by Dr. Anthony Akah, acting Chairman NERC, the Commission listed 8 steps to be followed by customers in order to register their complaints as follows:

1.  All new electricity connections must be done strictly on the basis of metering before connection. That is, no new customer should be connected without meter first being installed.
2. A customer who chooses to procure meter under the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme must be metered within 60 days after which the customer will neither be billed nor disconnected by the electricity distribution company.
3. Customers have a right to transparent electricity billing. Unmetered customers should be issued with electricity bills strictly based on NERC’s estimated billing methodology.
4. It is the customer’s right  to be notified in writing ahead of disconnection of electricity service by the electricity distribution company serving the customer in line with NERC’s guidelines.
5. The customer has a right to prompt investigation of complaints arising from the customer’s electricity service disruption.
6. It is not the responsibility of electricity customer or community to buy, replace or repair electricity transformers, poles and related equipment used in supply of electricity.
7. It is the customer’s right to contest any electricity bill. Any unmetered customer who is disputing his or her estimated bill has the right not to pay the disputed bill as the contested bill go through the dispute resolution process of NERC.
8. All complaints on your electricity supply and other billing issues are to be sent to the nearest business unit of the electricity company serving the premises.

The commission further stated that, if complaints are not properly addressed, customers have liberty of forwarding such complaints to the NERC Forum Office within the coverage area of the electricity distribution company as customers still have right to appeal the decision of the forum office at NERC headquarters in Abuja.

The commission however urged the public to play its part by paying valid electric bills, avoid meter bypass or stealing of electricity and protect power infrastructure from being vandalized.

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