The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has declared that it is illegal for any electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) to carry out the disconnection of a customer’s power supply without prior notification in writing. Acting CEO/Chairman, Dr. Anthony Aka disclosed in a public notice.
According to Aka, “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. 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: “A customer who elects to procure a 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 transparent electricity billing. Unmetered customers should be issued with electricity bills strictly based on NERC’s estimated billing methodology. 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 the electricity customer or 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.”
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.
“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.
