Customers’ faulty meters should be fixed in two working days — NERC

By Akinyemi Precious

According to NERC General Manager, Finance and Management Services, Dr Abdulkadir Shettima, electricity customers with faulty meters have the right to have it fixed within two working days.

He said this while making a presentation on Metering Issues at a recent NERC Workshop for Civil Society Organizations and Consumer Advocacy Groups in Kano state that after complaints have been received by the specific distribution company (DisCo), the customer’s meter should be fixed within two working days.

However, he mentioned that the exception to this rule is that the customer has the right to repair or the replacement of faulty meters within two working days upon complaint unless the fault is from him in which case, he will be required to make an upfront payment.

The customer also has the right to whatever credit that is on the old meter to be transferred to the new meter.

He also stated further that the customer has some obligations to fulfil, among which is to authorize access to the meter and connection to the DisCos because a default could lead to disconnection and to prevent unauthorized access to the meter.

The Deputy General Manager for Consumer Affairs at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Shittu Shaibu also talked about billing, and disconnection of electricity customers by their respective DisCos.

“For every bill that is given to a customer, the payment must be written on the bill. This is the most interesting part, and it has to be delivered by the agreed means, ten days before the due date.

“In the Customer Protection Regulations (CPR) 2023, the DisCo is mandated to give an additional two working days as grace period before disconnection.”