Nigerian Electricity
Regulatory Commission (NERC) has reminded electricity consumers not
provided with prepared meters by March 1 to stop paying electric bills
presented by Distribution Companies (DISCOs) on the basis of estimated
billing methodology.
The commission also
ordered the DISCOs not to disconnect any such customer that refuses to
pay the bills and further advised such customers to report to the
commission if disconnected.
NERC gave the directive on Wednesday
in a statement on its website and said it was part of its sanctioning of
defaulting DISCOs who failed to provide meters for its customers before
the March 1 deadline.
In line with its mandate of protecting the
rights of customers, NERC had in June 2016 after consultation with the
operators, directed DISCOs to conclude metering of all customers before
November 30, 2016.
According to NERC, the commission at the
expiration of that notice, granted three months moratorium which expired
on March 1, to enable the DISCOs effectively execute the metering
deployment plan for MD customers.
According to the statement, the
sanction was sequel to the expiration of the initial directives by NERC
and the moratorium period given to DISCOs to meter consumers.
“A
directive was issued to distribution companies by the Commission in June
2016 for all MD customers to be metered by 30 November 2016.
“The
Commission received appeals on compliance deadline from distribution
companies prior to the expiration of the 30 November 2016 deadline. The
deadline was extended to 1 March 2017 after consideration of appeals
received from distribution companies.
“Upon due consideration of
facts above and the expiration of the compliance deadline granted to
distribution companies on the metering of MD customers; the Commission
hereby directs as follows –
1. Any MD customer that was not
metered by 1 March 2017 shall not pay any electricity bill presented by a
distribution company on the basis of estimated billing methodology and
these customers are advised to report this to the Commission.
2.
No distribution company shall disconnect any MD customer that was not
metered by 1 March 2017 on the basis of the customer’s refusal to pay a
bill issued after the compliance deadline on the basis of estimated
billing methodology.
3. Any MD customer that was not metered by 1 March 2017 should notify the Commission directly.”
Source: Premium Times