•NERC warns of poor efficiency
The Federal Competitors and Shopper Safety Fee (FCCPC) has expressed help for the imposition of a N10.5 billion advantageous on Electrical energy Distribution Firms (DisCos) by the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (NERC) for failing to adjust to the restrict of estimated payments for electrical energy distribution corporations. clients with out a meter.
The advantageous is a part of an ongoing effort to handle points associated to electrical energy billing and higher shopper safety. The committee emphasised the significance of holding electrical energy distributors accountable and guaranteeing truthful billing practices whereas sustaining a excessive normal of service.
Performing Government Vice-Chairman/Chief Government Officer of the Fee, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, mentioned the robust motion by NERC flowed from the mandate of the FCCPC as specified within the Federal Competitors and Shopper Safety Act (FCCPA) 2018, notably in part 17(s), which provides the Fee powers to guard customers from objectionable practices or unethical exploitation dedicated by corporations, commerce associations or people, and the facility to hunt cures on behalf of customers.
He added that the FCCPC's current Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NERC goals to make sure more practical safety of electrical energy customers via info sharing, joint investigations and coordinated enforcement actions.
Abdullahi added that the capping regulation was an vital step in direction of fairer remedy of individuals with out meters, with the complete help of the FCCPC. He inspired NERC to contemplate extra strong measures corresponding to greater monetary penalties, strict enforcement mechanisms and the revocation of working permits to discourage future violations.
He urged electrical energy customers who’ve been handled unfairly via estimated payments to return ahead and register complaints with their respective DisCos. In instances the place these complaints aren’t adequately resolved, he really useful escalating the complaints to NERC or the FCCPC.
He assured an intensive investigation of all respectable complaints and promised redress for affected customers.
“Along with the routine decision of electrical energy shopper complaints, the Fee will proceed to prepare electrical energy shopper platforms throughout the nation. These platforms have supplied useful avenues for customers to voice their complaints and obtain instant responses and redress from DisCos and regulators, together with the FCCPC.
“FCCPC's current MoU with NERC goals to make sure more practical safety of electrical energy customers via info sharing, joint investigations and coordinated enforcement actions. The Fee believes that basic reforms are wanted to handle the systemic challenges dealing with the sector, together with measurement gaps, billing malpractice and insufficient customer support,” he mentioned.
Equally, on the Nigerian Electrical energy Provide Business (NESI) 2024 first stakeholders assembly, NERC Vice Chairman Musiliu Useni known as on DisCos to enhance their efficiency, warning of doable penalties because the committee would consider their efficiency on a person foundation and assess every would examine the matter carefully. applicable motion.
“NERC will overview efficiency on a case-by-case foundation. Sanctions and actions won’t be the identical. Ensure you enhance your effectivity. In case your effectivity is on the anticipated degree, you’re going to get your full OPEX. In case you don't carry out, you’ll solely get 50 % of your administration OPEX.”
