Reps moves to abolish anti-consumer practices by PHCN

… ask NERC to stop compulsory bulk metering in rural communities

The House of Representatives on Tuesday directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Electricity Distribution Companies (DIS- COs) to halt the implementation of the compulsory bulk metering of villages and communities in rural Nigeria.

The lawmakers also urged the Commission to immediately ensure the abolition of the fixed charges collected from consumers of electricity across the country by DISCOs.

While ruling, Speaker Yakubu Dogara disclosed that the House will constitute an ad-hoc committee that will ensure the implementation of the resolution.

Dogara also noted that some of the issues raised in the motion will form part of the amendment to the NERC Act, as canvassed by some members.

The resolution was passed after the passage of the motion sponsored by Philip Shuaibu (APC-Edo), who decried the poor service delivery despite hike in the tariff imposed on Nigerian consumers by the operators.

The lawmaker, who noted that the DISCOs had fallen short of standards and regulation established by NERC and global best practices in the discharge of its contractual obligation to the Nigerians, stressed the need for the intervention of the House.

He also tasked NERC to ensure that all the DISCOs give consumers an advance monthly schedule of distribution of electricity that would include the precise time and duration of availability of electricity to enable consumers plan their affairs until 24 hours electricity supply was guaranteed.

While stressing the need or consumer to exercise its right to be part of bulk metering scheme or not, Shuaibu urged the Commission to embark on sensitisation of electricity consumers on the remedies available to them in the event of inefficient services by the distribution companies.

Shuaibu further called on the Commission to break the monopoly of the DIS- COs by putting in place Electricity Distribution Open Access Regulation, thereby creating an opportunity for consumers to have the right to choose the company to supply their electric power.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja