– Sensitizes Power Consumers, addresses complaints
By Grace Ben Kato
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Thursday held a town hall meeting in Lokoja to educate power consumers in Kogi state.
The customer complaint resolution meeting, was aimed at bridging the gap between customers and Electricity Distribution Company in the country.
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In her opening remarks, the Commissioner Consumer Affairs, Aisha Mahmud, said, NERC issued the Customer Protection Regulations (CPR), that sets the minimum standards that Distribution Companies (DisCos) are expected to attain in protecting customers.
She however, noted that most Nigerians are not aware of the of the existence of the rules, policies and regulations which was reviewed in 2023.
“That’s one of the main reasons we are here, just to educate you on what you should know about the electricity industry.
“As consumers, you should know that when you pay for electricity, you are not just paying for electricity, but rather, you are paying for services as well.
She advised consumers to always insist to know what services they are given and what their rights and obligations are.
In his remarks, the AEDC Chief Business Officer, Kogi Zone, Mr Olaseni Agunpopo, who spoke on behalf of the Managing Director of AEDC, Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye, reiterated the commitment of the Distribution Company (DisCo) in ensuring that its customers get quality services.
He noted that the objective of the town hall and complaints resolution meeting being held for three days was to resolve most issues on the spot.
Agunpopo also committed to personally monitor the complaint resolution process in the state to ensure improvement in customer engagement and service delivery.
Engaging the participants on their rights and obligations as customers of AEDC, Mercy Ohamuche of NERC Consumer Affairs Division in a presentation, stated that consumers have the right to accurate and fair billing, to be metered and are obliged to pay their bills promptly, avoid energy theft and allow access to their power installations by DisCo staff.
In another presentation, the Head of Commercial Metering at AEDC, Isaac Uchendu, explained how customers in Kogi can apply and get metered within 10 working days especially through the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.
NERC Assistant General Manager, Consumer Affairs, Mrs Regina Osuagwu, coordinated an interactive session that provided avenues to respond to critical observations from the participants. She assured that the AEDC customer care team alongside NERC officials were on ground to resolve
complaints,Osuagwu also said the NERC Lokoja Forum Office is active where customers who are not satisfied with complaints resolved by AEDC to escalate them and have the forum members hear the appeals.
The customer complaint resolution session kick started immediately after the meeting with customers filing complaints along with documented evidence to back up their complaint. The issues include metering, disconnection, overestimation, constant blackout among others.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulations Commission, (NREC) is an independent regulatory body, with authority for the regulation of the electric power industry in Nigeria.
Since its establishment in 2005, the commission has been very proactive in the formation and review of electricity tariffs, transparent policies regarding subsidies, as well as in the promotion of efficient policies.
