Metro
Senate cautions NERC, DISCOs
In from Olumide Olaoluwa …
The Senate has asked the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to abolish the collection of fixed charges from electricity consumers.
The Upper Chamber also urged NERC to urgently inquire into numerous complaint before it by electricity consumers in line with the provision of Section 74(1)(b) of the Power Sector Reform Act.
It directed Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to discontinue the practice of compulsory bulk metering of villages and communities in the rural areas as a consumer should have the right to elect to be part of bulk metering scheme or not.
This was contained in a motion on “Unfair Trade Practice of Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in Nigeria” sponsored by Senators Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North) and David Umaru (Niger East).
The Senate also resolved to ask NERC to make a regulation to mandate the DISCOs to discontinue the practice of making consumer to pay for meters, poles and transformers which by law, are property of the DISCOs.
It agreed where consumers purchase the items, they should give notice of the purchase to the DISCOs and should be entitled to recover their expenses from subsequent consumption of electricity.
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It said that NERC should bring to an end the monopoly of DISCOs the sales of energy meters to enable consumers purchase them either from DISCOs or from any other supplier, subject to the regulation and specification of the NERC; and to also account for all monies that have been so far collected on fixed charges across the country.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki who summed up contributions by Senators, commended the sponsors and assured that the Senate would get to the root of the matter in the interest of Nigerian electricity consumers.
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