Senate orders stoppage of fixed electricity charges, estimated billings

Written by:
Taiwo Adisa, Abuja
Senators, on Tuesday, accused electricity distribution companies of conspiring to rip Nigerians off despite epileptic power supply.
The lawmakers, who adopted a motion moved by Senator Sam Egwu, said that the electricity companies had been unfair to Nigerians.
The motion, entitled: "Unfair Trade Practice of Electricity Distribution Companies in Nigeria," also urged the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to protect Nigerians in line with the provisions of Section 74 (1)(b) of the Power Reform Act.
The Senate, in adopting the motion, said that the NERC should immediately ensure the abolition of fixed charges being collected from electricity consumers across the country.
The lawmakers also asked the electricity distribution companies to stop the practice of bulk metering of villages as well as estimated billing.
Senator Egwu, speaking on the issue, said that NERC was established to, among others, license and regulate persons engaged in the generation, transmission, system operation distribution and trading of electricity.
He said that the body was also empowered to ensure fairness for the consumers while also ensuring reasonable earnings for efficient services.

He lamented that despite the regulatory activities of NERC, the distribution companies had continued to engage in arbitrary estimated billing which he said was not commensurate with energy consumed.
He said: "The high tariff being charged by DISCOs does not make provision for payment of only electricity that is consumed even though bills are dished out without commensurate services being offered by the distribution companies."
The senator expressed worries about the exploitative activities of the DISCOs, saying that the development could make life more difficult for Nigerians.
"I am also concerned that even those that have the prepaid meters are being billed a fixed rate of about N700 a month irrespective of whether or not the person consumes electricity.
"It is disturbing that by the avalanche of complaints by electricity consumers about the unwholesome practice of the DISCOs which fall short of standards established by NERC as well as global best practices, thereby failing in the discharge of their contractural obligations to Nigerian public."
Senators who contributed to the debate condemned the exploitation of Nigerians by the DISCOs. Senators Danjuma Goje and Nelson Effiong advocated the review of the Power Reform Act to ease the burden of Nigerians.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, stated that Nigerians were not feeling the impact of the electricity firms.




http://tribuneonlineng.com/senate-orders-stoppage-fixed-electricity-charges-estimated-billings

Great move!

This land is not for sale,it is for me.beware of 419.

Alihamdulilahi!!!!

Picture of the order or I don't believe it.

How I wish their toothless bull order had any effect on the suffering of ordinary Nigerians who are feeling the pain.

Good motion. I applaud moves that affect the cpmmon man.

Another annoying thing is the billing for prepaid meters which should normally come at no cost, yet these distributors hoard it and charge exorbitant fees to install them. We got fed up with the fixed billing in mum's shop and it cost N50,000 to get a prepaid meter. Outrageous!!!