NERC warns customers against buying transformers, poles
From Hajara Usman, Gombe
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said it remains the responsibility of electricity distribution companies to provide transformers, poles, wires and other things needed for electricity supply to consumers.
Mrs. Regina Osuagwu, Assistant General Manager, Consumer Affairs, NERC, stated this during theCustomer Complaint Resolution organised by the NERC in Gombe.
She said it is not the responsibility of the consumers to buy meters, poles or any assets for the DisCos because they have already provided for that in the tariff of the utilities.
“Atleast customers have been enlightened, they know what to do if anybody asks them to pay money for transformer repair or buy a new one, we have given our hotlines for complaint.”
NERC assured the public of prompt action upon receiving such complaints.
Mr Hamisu Wakili, Chief Technical Officer, JED,
said they we will continue to invest in infrastructure to improve service delivery, which will enhance customers satisfaction.
“But we need your support also through the prompt payment of electricity bills, avoiding energy theft and always feed us with information when you see anybody trying to vandalise our facilities,” he said.
According to Wakili, 34 per cent of JED customers are fully metered, adding that there was still a gap of 66 per cent of those yet to be metered.
He said the Federal Government in collaboration with DisCos implemented viable programmes to ensure that metering reached everywhere.
Wakil listed the programmes to include Presidential Metering Initiative and Metre Acquisition Fund, adding that the programmes were designed to address customer metering and distribution of transformers for effective energy accountability.
