Reps move to check excessive electricity charges

Reps move to check excessive electricity charges

- A House of Representatives committee is to ascertain the average cost of electricity in West African sub region vis-a-vis Nigeria

- The panel will also find out why DISCOs have not complied with the deadline of March 1, 2017, in phasing out estimated billing system

- The NERC has come up with a new metering rule

Reprieve may soon come the way of electricity consumers as a House of Representatives ad-hoc committee is planning to check excessive electricity charges being levied on consumers by distribution companies (Discos) in the country.

The Nation reports that the committee on Thursday, March 22, said it would meet with community development associations (CDAs) in different geo-political zones in the course of its assignment.

Ajibola Famurewa, who chairs the committee, said many Nigerians were suffering due to the arbitrary charges for electricity from the distribution companies.

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As part of its duties, the committee was tasked by the House to determine the differences between the prepaid meters installed by PHCN and the MOJEC prepaid meters by DISCOs as well as to determine the costing algorithm used by NERC in arriving at the consumer’s price.

The committee is also ascertain the average cost of electricity in West African sub region vis-a-vis Nigeria and to find out why DISCOs have not complied with the deadline of March 1, 2017, in phasing out estimated billing system.

Other relevant organisations and agencies that will take part in the investigation process include federal ministry of power, works and housing, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Consumer Protection Council, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NIBET) and Transmission Company of Nigeria.

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Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will on April 3, 2018, commence the enforcement of its recently unveiled Meter Asset Provider Regulations (MAPR), 2018, a policy that seeks to bridge the widening metering gap in the electricity supply industry.

It was gathered that the country’s metering gap had increased to about 4.74 million, as power consumers welcomed the new policy, describing it as a panacea for meter unavailability.

The NERC said in its MAPR 2018, with Regulation No. NERC-R-112: “These regulations shall come into effect on the 8th day of March 2018.

Nigerian electricity crisis explained on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng

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