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NERC to clampdown on recalcitrant Discos over prepaid meters

By on November 19, 2014

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is set to clampdown on electricity distribution companies that have failed to comply with its substitute order on meter provision, within the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme.

NERC’s recent decision to embark on a nationwide fact-finding visit to distribution networks across the country, starting from Abuja, followed widespread complaints by electricity consumers of the discos’ non-compliance to the agency’s order on CAPMI, which allows consumers to voluntarily pay for meter and get rebate on energy purchases.

The commission, it was learnt, will kick off the fact-finding visit from Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), which has also recently astronomically hiked electricity tariff under its estimated billing platform.

The fact-finding visit on CAPMI will then move to Enugu, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Jos, Kano, Kaduna and ends with Yola Distribution Company on December 17.

AEDC hiked the tariff in its October estimated bills to consumers within its network. Customers, who are within the estimated billing platform of the Disco in the Wuse 2, Jabi and other districts of Abuja told THISDAY that an average of N10,255.53 was slammed on customers using a room self-contain in their October bills.

According to them, following the refusal of AEDC to offer an explanation for the sudden hike in electricity tariff, the matter was reported to the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi. The NERC boss confirmed that an inquiry into the recent would be conducted by the commission.

Similarly, NERC is to send a technical team on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the cause of perennial power failure in Ifaki and other parts of Ekiti State.

Amadi made this known on while receiving the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, who paid him impromptu visit to appeal for quick and sustainable resolution to what he described as perennial power failure in towns across the state.

Fayose’s visit had coincided with the monthly meeting of chief executives of the operators in the country’s electricity industry.
The governor was told that the lingering problem had been deliberated prior to his unexpected visit.

Amadi in response to Fayose’s request said that the power failure was occasioned by a collapse in the transmission system around the state.
His assertions were thus buttressed by the representative of the Chief Executive of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, whose company provides electricity services for parts of the state.

Both the Managing Director of the Transmission Commission of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Mack Kast and his System Operator counterpart, Mr.  Dipark Sarma also corroborated the claims.

Sarma, however, assured the governor that the fault clearing, which started some days ago would be completed within a short time.

 

[ThisDay]