By Adedapo Adesanya
Electricity distribution companies, known as Discos, have been told to downgrade customers in the Band A category if they do not have enough capacity for supplies.
This disclosure was made by the Commissioner of Licensing and Legal for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr Dafe Akpeneye, on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday.
According to him, if the energy firms cannot meet the promised 20 hours to Band A customers, the customers are to immediately be downgraded to the level for which they can meet supplies.
“With regards to the migration order is not elective to the instance of the customer. The disco needs to make an application and ensure that they can supply power to customers in Band A.
“If Discos can’t supply such customers, they are to downgrade such customers to meet what they can provide.
“The distribution can distribute what is only available on the grid. So, when there is no supply to the grid, the discos can’t meet those supply commitments. But the grid has been resolved and we hope supply can improve, and when they can’t, the discos have to downgrade such customers,” Mr Akpeneye said.
Business Post reports that after some new reforms were instituted in the Nigerian electricity sector – customers were put in tiers, leading to a rise in costs with the promise of at least 20 hours of power supply for those on Band A (the highest tier). Band A customers pay a tariff of N209.5 per Kilowatts per hour (kWh).
However, many customers despite being in Band A do not get up to 20 hours of electricity despite paying more and has since sparked complaints.
This is coming after the House of Representatives proposed that only Discos with a capital base of N500 billion be allowed by the federal government to operate.
The resolution was passed by the House during a plenary session on Wednesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Mr Ibrahim Isiaka, a representative from Ogun State.
In his motion, Mr Isiaka noted that the actions of DisCoS are “posing a threat to economic stability and welfare of the Nigerian populace.”
The lawmaker also noted that Nigerian consumers paid for electricity meter installation, but “Discos are demanding additional payments for replacement of these metres under dubious pretences, undermining consumer trust and exacerbating financial burdens.”
The House then urged the ministry of power to “declare DisCos as non-state actors and take immediate measures to address their reckless actions threatening the nation’s economy.”