EXTORTION: NERC reads riot act to DISCOs over transformers, others.

By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI—Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, yesterday warned that it would sanction Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, found extorting money from consumers to supply transformers and other distribution accessories to them. Acting Chairman of the Commission, Dr Anthony Akah handed down the warning during the commissioning of Ebonyi State Consumer Complaints Forum Office in Abakaliki.
According to him, it was a criminal offense for DISCOs to charge money to replace transformers and other power distribution accessories. He said: “The Commission will punish Discos caught in such act to the full extent of the law. This can include fines and even revocation of licenses depending on the magnitude of the offense.” He debunked the allegation that the Commission was a toothless bulldog that was unable to sanction erring DISCOs, adding that the recent sanction handed out to Abuja DISCO and others by NERC was a clear testament of the powers of the Commission. “But the consumers have the duty to provide the Commission with proof of these offenses not just to complain. They should help us with incontrovertible proof”, he said. Dr Akah said the opening of the Commission’s Abakaliki Consumer Complaints Office signified the responsiveness of government toward addressing the needs and challenges of residents in the state with regards to the power situation in the state and the country at large. He said NERC had instituted measures to accelerate metering through very close monitoring of distribution companies meter roll out plan, adding“the present metering gap in Enugu DISCO alone is about 512,335 when compared to its total customer size of 732, 423, which is a whopping 70% deficit in metering.”