Electricity: NERC gives DisCos power to disconnect debtors after 12 days

…..as Electricity Consumers calls for end to estimated billing

Electricity Distribution Companies, (Discos) can disconnect customers who fail to pay their bills after 12 working days, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has stated.

NERC in its “Customer Protection Regulations 2023” released at the weekend, said DisCos must give a notice of disconnection to customers stating date, time and reason for disconnection.

According to the Commission, DisCos cannot bill a customer for periods in which the customer is disconnected.

“The following conditions must be fulfilled before Distribution Companies can exercise their rights to disconnect customers for failure to pay their bills by the specified payment date-

“The payment date must be clearly stated on the bill.

“The payment date must be at least 10 days from the date of the delivery of the bill to the customer. Bills may be delivered physically to the customer’s premises or by some other electronic means, including text messages or electronic mail, as agreed with the customer.

“The period between the payment date and date of scheduled disconnection for nonpayment is not less than two working days after the payment date.

“The Distribution Company must verify from its records that payment has not been made by the customer”, it added.

NERC also authorised DisCos to disconnect a customer without notice if the customer is illegally connected to the network, the disconnection is dangerous to the network, or where the customer fails to grant access to have the meter reading taken.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, James Chijioke stressed the need for electricity consumers to be provided prepaid meters.

He described the estimated billing of customers by DisCos as arbitrary act that should be discontinued.

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According to him, “when customers have prepaid meters, it means the issue of disconnection would not arise as consumers are able to monitor their consumption. Supply is automatically cut off when you exhaust your units and it is restored when you recharge. No hassles.

“Estimated billing method is arbitrary and should be discontinued immediately. Every customer deserves to be metered and that is what we have been calling for”, he added