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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has declared that it is not the responsibility of electricity consumers/customers or communities to buy, replace or repair transformers, poles, cables and related items used in power supply.
Executive Commissioner, Operations, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, made the disclosure on in Benin City, capital of Edo State at the opening of the commission’s four-day electricity consumers’ complaints’ resolution platform, which was sponsored by MacArthur Foundation and attended by many consumers.
Though Abdullahi said, there were many issues in electricity consumption in Nigeria, he frowned at disconnection of consumers’ lines without notice, outrageous/crazy bills, non-supply of pre-paid meters already paid for, and disregard for regulations, among other complaints by electricity consumers in the country.
He explained while the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), an independent regulatory body, has the authority to regulate electric power industry in the country, FCCPC is to protect consumers throughout Nigeria.
“Electricity consumers in Nigeria have right to be properly-installed with functional meters. Payment for meters shall not be made, if meters are not available. The Meter Asset Provider (MAP) shall install the meters at the premises of the customers within ten working days of payment.
“Unmetered customers shall not experience any cost increase, beyond what is chargeable to metered customers in the same area. Customers have the right to contest bills and withhold payment of disputed bills, “Abdullahi declared.
But in her goodwill message, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs. Funke Osibodu, insisted that officials of the company were trying their best to make their customers in the franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti happy by quickly resolving issues.
Osibodu, who was represented by company’s Chief State Head for Edo, Mr. Abel Enechaziam, stated that she was aware of limited power supply and inadequate metering, according to her, should not be blamed on the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), stressing that BEDC was always ready to listen to the consumers’ complaints, with quick actions being taken.
Osibodu, also stressed that there was inadequate supply of meters by NERC, while pointing out that DisCos across Nigeria were facing challenges from the generation and transmission of power, but expressed optimism that NERC would soon be able to resolve those hiccups.
Also, a top official of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Mr. Akinbadejo Akinleye, while speaking, noted that the agency’s officers were always striving to ensure the maintenance of quality in electricity management in the country.
One of the displeased consumers of BEDC, Daniel Ikhanaede, lamented having about four days of electricity supply in a month, in a small residential apartment in Benin, only to receive outrageous bill of over N200,000, while describing as ridiculous, not being supplied with pre-paid meters.
Another customer, Peter Asekhaino, a lawyer, who is the Legal Adviser to Hotel Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Edo state chapter, disclosed that he earlier wrote over forty complaint letters, on behalf of his clients, to BEDC’s head office in Benin, without response.
Asekhaino who tendered photocopies of letters not replied, particularly on overbilling and high tariffs, wondered why a hotel’s monthly bill would suddenly jump from N900,000 to over N6 million.
Speaking in the same vein, an aggrieved elderly customer, Pa Vincent Igbinosu, lamented the irregular supply of electricity to his house in the Edo state capital, while monthly, receiving crazy bills, which he said should be looked into.
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