By Stephen Adeleye.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Thursday, urged electricity consumers in Kogi to always exercise their rights and obligations to enable them enjoy electricity supply from service providers.
The Commissioner, Consumer Affairs of NERC, Aisha Mahmud, gave the advice at a three-day Customer Complaints Resolution meeting organised by NERC in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Lokoja.
She noted that the commission as electricity regulatory agency, determine operating codes and standards, establish customer rights and obligations and set cost reflective industry tariffs.
She stressed that the essence of the customer complaints resolution meeting, was to sensitise electricity consumers on their rights and obligations as well as entertaining their complaints with a view to adequately address them.
“We have been moving around the country, and today it is the turn of Kogi because most Nigerians are not aware of the existence of regulations guiding electricity supply to customers.
“When you pay for electricity, it is duty bound on you as a customer to ensure that Discos render service to you. If they fail you can report them to the commission for immediate action.
“It is the duty of the Discos to provide meters free to customers and assured that the commission would address such complaints.
On his part, the Kogi State Director of NOA, Mr Abdulganiyu Dare, urged the people to freely to express their complaints on any electricity issues, saying it would be addressed.
Dare, who was represented Head of Program, NOA, Mr Ogbonnikan Mayowa, said the agency in collaboration with NREC conducted a roadshow on Wednesday to create awareness and mobilise consumer for the meeting
“We were out on Wednesday to create awareness, mobilise to ensure that the town hall meeting is successful, which is a testament to the large turnout of people here today.
“Please feel free to to let us know your complaints and it will be addressed accordingly,” he said.
He reassured the commitment of NOA to continue to partner with NERC and Discos to enlightening the people in line with its mandate.
Also speaking, the Managing Director AEDC, Engr. Chjioke Okwuokenye said the meeting was put together to address complaints from customers to enable the company serve them better.
Okwuokenye, who was represented by the Chief Business Officer (CBO), AEDC, Kogi, Mr Olaseni Agunpopo commended the customers for their cooperation and patronage.
Mercy Ohamuche, a Consumer Affairs Officer of NERC, who spoke on consumer’s Rights and Obligations of customers, stressed that customers have rights to safe and reliable electricity services.
She said that customers have the right to tender their complaints for poor electricity supply, lack of meter, inaccurate and improper billing, among others.
She added that the customers have the rights for information especially when AEDC is embarking on major repair that will disrupt the supply of power to customers.
Okwuokenye, however said customers have obligation to pay their bills as at when due to enable AEDC serve them better, noting that cordiality with the electricity workers is also the obligation of the customers.
“It is the obligation of the consumers to protect electricity equipment by reporting vandalization to the appropriate quarters,” she said.
Some of the electricity customers, who spoke at the meeting, commended the NERC, NOA and AEDC for the initiative, saying it would enable them to lodge their complaints.
Mr Adewole Soji, decried the high rate of estimated billings by AEDC with the corresponding electricity supply, while stressing the need for AEDC to make meter easily accessible by customers.
