The Federal Competitors and Shopper Safety Fee has urged the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee to mandate Distribution Firms to meter all unmetered Band A clients inside 60 days.
The FCCPC in a press release on Sunday by its Performing Govt Vice Chairman/ Chief Govt Officer, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, stated the transfer would guarantee correct billing and defending customers from arbitrary estimations.
Abdullahi additionally urged NERC to implement the cap on estimated payments and guarantee compliance with the required each day provide for respective tariff bands (A to E), saying it is going to promote equity in billing practices.
“To deal with these considerations and promote client welfare underneath the present service reflective tariff regime, FCCPC encourages NERC to mandate DisCos to meter all unmetered Band A clients inside 60 days, thus guaranteeing correct billing and defending customers from arbitrary estimations
“As well as, we urge NERC to vigorously implement the cap on estimated payments and guarantee compliance with the required each day provide for respective tariff bands (A to E), thereby selling equity in billing practices,” Abdullahi stated.
Abdullahi reiterated that until a client on Band B, C, D, or E is metered, the DisCo shouldn’t be allowed emigrate such a client to the next tariff band to keep away from any type of exploitation, “this can even function an incentive for DisCos to meter customers.”
He recommended the current enforcement motion taken by the NERC towards the Abuja Electrical energy Distribution Firm for violating the Supplementary Order to the Multi-Yr Tariff Order 2024 for Abuja Electrical.
Abdullahi stated the motion features a mandate for AEDC to reimburse all clients in Bands B, C, D, and E who had been billed above the allowed tariff bands and to pay a high quality of N200m.
Abdullahi added that the motion represents an important step in the direction of upholding client rights and guaranteeing equity inside Nigeria’s electrical energy business.
The FCCPC boos known as for extra sturdy and vigilant enforcement, “in addition to better transparency in billing and energy provide, as a steadiness to the not too long ago elevated tariff for Band A clients.”
“NERC’s determination to penalise AEDC reinforces FCCPC’s sturdy advocacy for shielding customers from unfair market practices, as mandated by the Federal Competitors and Shopper Safety Act 2018. Notably, this motion was taken inside 48 hours of the introduction of a brand new tariff regime for Band A clients.” Abdullahi stated.
In keeping with him, whereas NERC accredited the tariff realignment and Service Supply Commitments for Band A electrical energy clients to make sure the sustainability and viability of Distribution Firms, “and the complete electrical energy sector, we acknowledge the reliable considerations raised by customers. Many customers have expressed concern that the probability of arbitrary estimated billing for unmetered Band A clients may result in client abuse and dissatisfaction.”
He stated that the DisCos’ repeated failure to satisfy the minimal energy provide hours for respective tariff bands and their failure over time to compensate customers for service downtime have made client grievances worse.
“The FCCPC is happy with NERC’s current Order to DisCos to robotically downgrade any Band A feeder that doesn’t benefit from the minimal requirement of 20 hours per day energy provide for seven consecutive days
“Whereas the fee would intently monitor the implementation of this directive by all events, in keeping with extant legal guidelines and an present Memorandum of Understanding with NERC, we urge NERC to diligently implement the proposed measures and collaborate with stakeholders to deal with client considerations, to foster a sustainable and consumer-friendly electrical energy market.” He stated.
He stated that the fee is assured that NERC will persist in imposing acceptable penalties on DisCos for violations, which might promote compliance and accountability within the electrical energy business.
