From Chidi Nnadi, Enugu
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has threatened to use the big hammer on the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) who fail to give meters to energy consumers.
NERC commissioner in charge of engineering performance and monitoring, Prof. Frank Okafor, dropped the hint during the 16th monthly meeting with the minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, with operators in the power sector, at the Ugwuaji 330/132 KV transmission sub-station, Enugu State, on Monday.
He regretted that the DisCos who have been committed to a certain level of metering of electricity consumers every year have not lived up to expectations.
He said: “DisCos have not done well in metering people, they are committed to a certain level of metering every year, but they have not done that.
“We are looking at very heavy sanctions, including the cutting off of their boards and replacing them.
“NERC has the right to sack their boards and put in place new boards because we cannot continue to suffer like that and you know that, without power, we cannot do much.”
Okafor disclosed that some of the DisCos only did 20 to 25 per cent metering, which he said was not good enough, as he expressed doubt whether the electricity distribution companies applied well the fund from the Central Bank of Nigeria meant to beef up the metering exercise.
“NERC issued an order saying that by March 1, if you are a maximum demand customer and you have not been metered you can elect not to pay on an estimated bill or you continue to pay on the last metered bill.
“The most important thing was that from March 1, you can elect not to pay because they (DisCos) have returned 100 per cent metering of all maximum demand customers.
“That is what the order said, it has nothing to do between me and you whose consumptions are right there in our meters in our homes or even if your bill is estimated, it does not apply to you,” he said.
The operators in a communiqué signed agreed that the Power Sector Recovery Programme was receiving public attention as it was focusing on the importance of unity.
They noted that “there is a growing consensus among the government and the public that power must be paid for and that power must be conserved.”
They also disclosed that state governments were empowered to become “eligible” customers to procure premium power directly from generating companies (GenCos).
The operators urged state governments to appoint energy advisers to ensure better understanding of the power sector before formulating power policies.