Mr Tunji Bello, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has called on electricity distribution companies in Nigeria to prioritize consumer rights in their metering processes.
This appeal was made during an urgent meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja, which gathered key stakeholders from Nigeria’s electricity sector and the FCCPC.
Bello highlighted the ongoing systemic inefficiencies that continue to affect Nigerian consumers, particularly concerning metering and billing practices.
He emphasized : “The recent challenges, especially arbitrary billing practices and the lack of transparency in metering, are unacceptable.”
He urged stakeholders to ensure fair treatment of consumers and compliance with the guidelines established by regulatory bodies such as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The meeting focused on rising concerns about metering issues, including discrepancies in billing and the management of outdated meters.
In particular, the FCCPC addressed the contentious phase-out of the Unistar prepaid meter model, which has the potential to impose additional burdens on consumers.
Bello cited a specific complaint from a distressed Ikeja Electric customer who expressed frustration over the high costs associated with changing meters.
“To change the meters in my house will cost about N1 million. Please kindly intervene,” the customer wrote in a message to the FCCPC.
In response, Bello insisted that electricity distribution companies (DisCos) should bear the costs associated with replacing meters and not pass these expenses onto consumers, especially during the transition phase.
He reiterated that consumers should not be responsible for the costs of meters that are outdated or no longer in service.
(NAN/vitalnewsngr.com)
