Group supports NERC’s move to sanction 8 DisCos

A Lagos-based consumer group, Energy Consumer Rights and Responsibilities Initiative, on Monday, said it is in support of a move by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to cancel the licences of eight electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) for alleged breach of rules.

The group also called on NERC to urgently look into activities of Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) following complaints by customers that they had not been issued prepaid meters after paying for them. Mr. Sural Fadairo, the president of the consumer rights group, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Recall that NERC, in a notice, had given eight DisCos 60 days to show in writing why their licences should not be cancelled in accordance with Section 74 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA). NERC claimed that the DisCos breached some provisions of ESPRA in July, 2019.

The companies under consideration for the breach of rules are Abuja DisCo (AEDC), Benin DisCo (BEDC), Enugu DisCo (EEDC), Ikeja DisCo (IE).

Others are Kaduna DisCo (KAEDCO), Kano DisCo (KEDCO), Port Harcourt DisCo (PHEDC) and Yola DisCo (YEDC). Fadairo told NAN that NERC should step up its responsibility of regulating the power sector by sanctioning companies which breached the Electric Power Sector Reforms (EPSR) Act.

He said, “The NERC should not only bark, but it should be able to bite from time to time and put the DisCos on their toes.