PUBLIC NOTICE FROM THE NIGERIAN ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION (NERC)
PUBLIC NOTICE FROM THE NIGERIAN ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION (NERC): NERC is the body empowered to meet the yearnings of Nigerians for stable,
adequate and safe electricity supply. The Commission, in a public notice
released on Saturday, said it has taken the bull by the horn by releasing to the public,
the rights of every electricity consumer to curb arbitrariness by the DisCos and aid
consumers in fighting for their rights.
The NERC Acting CEO/Chairman, Dr. Anthony Akah, who personally signed the
public notice titled “Good News For Electricity Consumers!” also said that henceforth.
PUBLIC NOTICE FROM THE NIGERIAN ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION (NERC): the Notice
*1*. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has declared that it is
illegal for any electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) to carry out disconnection of a
customer’s power supply without prior notification in writing.
*2*. “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.
*3*. “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,” the public notice read.
Other rights of the electricity consumer as contained in the public notice are as follows:
*4.* “A customer who elects 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.”
*5.* “It is the customer’s right to transparent electricity billing. Unmetered
customers should be issued with electricity bills strictly based on NERC’s estimated billing methodology.”
*6.* “It is the customer’s right to prompt investigation of complaints arising from
the customer’s electricity service disruption”.
*7.* “It is not the responsibility of electricity customer or community to buy, replace or repair electricity transformers, poles and related equipment used in the supply of electricity.”
PUBLIC NOTICE FROM THE NIGERIAN ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION (NERC): continue….
*8.* “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, but pay only the last undisputed bill as the contested bill goes through the dispute resolution process of NERC.”
The commission urged customers to send all complaints on electricity supply and other billing issues to the nearest business unit of the electricity company serving their premises.
However, NERC said,
*9.* “If your complaint is not satisfactorily addressed, you can forward your
complaint to the NERC Forum Office within the coverage area of your electricity
distribution company. Customers also have the right to appeal the decision of the forum at the NERC headquarters in Abuja.”
The Commission also published NERC Zonal Office Contacts for easier access and these are:
• Joseph John *South-West* (08164201445)
• Tony Ray Ene *South-South* (08130363581)
• Ekeh Samuel Chukwuemeka *South-East* (08062219714)
• Hassan GWANDU *North-West* (07061117416)
• Mohammed Umar Fufore *North-East* (07061097132)
• Friday Sule
*North-Central* (07036948408).
the commission
The Commission urged customers to share this information and “help us
protect your rights” but however warned against neglecting their obligations.
“Note that you have an obligation to pay your valid electric bills, avoid meter
by-pass or stealing of electricity and protect power infrastructure from being vandalised,” the agency stated.