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THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has said that all new electricity connections in the country must be done strictly on the basis of metering before connection. NERC urged electricity distribution companies to ensure that no new customer is connected without meter first being installed.
NERC, in a statement detailing the rights of every electricity consumer, noted that it is the customer’s right to transparent electricity billing and unmetered customers should be issued with electricity bills strictly based on NERC’s estimated billing methodology. According to the NERC, 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.
“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. It is the customer’s right to prompt investigation of complaints arising from the customer’s electricity service disruption. It is not the responsibility of electricity customers or the community to buy, replace or repair electricity transformers, poles and related equipment used in the supply of electricity. 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,” it said.
NERC advised the consumers that all complaints on electricity supply and other billing issues are to be sent to the nearest business unit of the electricity company serving their premises. “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.
“Log into www.nercng.org for more details or contact: NERC ZONAL OFFICE CONTACTS: 08164201445 Joseph John southwest; 08130363581 Tony Ray Ene South-South; 08062219714 Ekeh Samuel Chukwuemeka Southeast; 07061117416 Hassan GWANDU northwest; 07061097132 Mohammed Umar Fufore North East; 07036948408 Friday Sule North Central.
“Please share this information and help us protect your rights. However, 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 vandalized. Together, by doing our part, we can get the power sector we all desire.”
– Mar. 20, 2020 @ 13:35 GMT |
Tags: New electricity connections must be on the basis of metering – NERC
