The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC ) has barred the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos ) from disparaging the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.
In a communique issued after a meeting with the DisCos, it was agreed that the Legal Counsel of the Electricity Distribution Companies representing ANED, should never in whatsoever way interfere with the policy directives, or regulatory pronouncements made either by the Honorable Minister of Power, or the Commission.
“That no unwarranted remark should be made by ANED representatives against the person of the Honorable Minister, NERC Chairman or against any of the NERC Commissioner going forward”
According to the communique, the meeting stressed the need to uphold customer service standards especially as it relates to refund of monies collected from customers for meters under the scrapped CAPMI Scheme.
It said the Discos were directed to publish a reminder in any two National Newspapers that customers who paid for CAMPI yet unmetered should come for refund with details of payment.
The meeting also received reports that some MD customers’ were still unmetered inspite of NERC’s Order and directed that Discos should report on the current status especially as it relates to Energy Theft and compliance.
The Discos, NERC said, are to pay attention to MD Meters within their franchise being bypassed, or compromised, adding that Smart technologies should be deployed in appropriate areas going forward.
The meeting raised concerns over non compliance of the Discos with the Estimated Billing Methodology, disregard for safety standards and the poor state of the Forum Offices, as well as their large backlog of unresolved cases.
It said that Electricity Distribution Companies should ensure that estimated bills are kept within reasonable levels in accordance with the Methodology even before the MAP regulation and capping regulation come into effect.
The meeting agreed that the Uniform System of Accounts (USoA) reporting form should be on the Commission’s website by Friday August 31, 2018.
A special session was agreed to be set aside for in depth discussion with the Operators on Competition Transition Charge (CTC) and Franchising before the consultation with the larger stakeholders will commence.
In addition, the 72 billion naira intervention fund is to be clearly structured. It was agreed that this offer should be fully utilized by the Electricity Distribution Companies.
“The Electricity Distribution Companies were advised to make submission Energizing Economic Clusters for the Commission’s consideration
Source: The nation
