By Oluwaseun Nubi
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), in collaboration with Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), on Tuesday held an electrical energy client complaints discussion board in Ikorodu, to handle grievances and promote immediate decision of disputes.
The theme of the discussion board is, “Fair Billing, Reliable Service, Speedy Redress: Putting the Electricity Consumer First”.
The Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, mentioned the initiative was designed to handle persistent complaints referring to estimated billing, delayed metering, disputed payments, improper disconnections and poor electrical energy provide.
Bello was represented on the occasion by Mrs Omago Nwachukwu, a Surveillance Officer at FCCPC.
Bello mentioned the programme adopted a proper request by the Ikorodu West neighborhood for the fee to have interaction residents and assist resolve long-standing electricity-related challenges.
He mentioned the fee was dedicated to defending shoppers’ rights to honest therapy, correct billing, clear data and efficient redress at any time when service suppliers failed to fulfill their obligations.
Bello defined that the FCCPC would proceed to collaborate with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) and different related companies to make sure that shoppers’ complaints have been addressed.
“Our presence here is not in competition with any sister agency; it is in partnership. Consumers do not care which agency’s letterhead resolves their complaint. They care that it gets resolved,” he mentioned.
He urged electrical energy shoppers to know and train their rights, together with the appropriate to metering, correct payments, correct discover earlier than disconnection and entry to grievance decision mechanisms.
The FCCPC chief government additionally suggested shoppers to pay for electrical energy consumed, keep away from unlawful connections and supply related payments and account particulars when lodging complaints.
Addressing the distribution firms, Bello urged them to empower their representatives on the decision desks to evaluation disputed payments, organize meter installations and reconnect shoppers whose electrical energy had been disconnected improperly.
“Let this town hall be remembered not by how many complaints were heard, but by how many were resolved,” he mentioned.
He warned that the fee wouldn’t hesitate to deploy its enforcement powers the place engagement didn’t safe compliance with client safety necessities.
Also talking, Mr Salami Oladokun, Area Inspecting Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), urged shoppers to confirm that their electrical energy meters had been examined and authorized earlier than set up.
Oladokun suggested shoppers to ask installers for proof of certification and test for the inexperienced seal on their meters.
“We cannot do it alone, so we are encouraging you all to report all badly installed meters. We are currently going round to check for bad ones,” he mentioned.
He reaffirmed NEMSA’s dedication to making sure that electrical energy installations met the required requirements and served shoppers safely.
Similarly, Mr Yusuf Abiodun, General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), mentioned the company had been collaborating with IKEDC to resolve client complaints.
Abiodun mentioned the partnership included a month-to-month discussion board held on the final Thursday of each month, via which a number of electricity-related disputes, significantly these involving overbilling, had been addressed.
He disclosed that LASCOPA recovered N4 million for shoppers in September, including that the company had recovered greater than N186 million for shoppers since its inception.
“Where we have any issue that we cannot resolve outside our jurisdiction, we refer it to the FCCPC, and they have been doing well,” he mentioned.
Mr Ayodele Dosumu, Chief Commercial Manager of IKEDC, mentioned the corporate was investing in infrastructure and metering initiatives to enhance electrical energy provide and buyer expertise throughout its franchise space.
Dosumu mentioned the corporate had delivered about 15,000 single-phase and three-phase meters in Ikorodu over the previous 4 years via numerous metering programmes.
He mentioned the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) programme was ongoing, whereas the corporate was developing an injection substation on the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, to enhance electrical energy provide to surrounding communities.
According to him, the undertaking is anticipated to enhance provide to areas together with Ijede, Imota, Odogunyan, Shagamu Interchange and close by communities, with completion anticipated round December or January.
Dosumu mentioned IKEDC had additionally changed about 30 transformers over the previous 4 years and plans to switch a further 20 in areas the place transformers are defective or overloaded.
He added that the corporate was introducing infrastructure upgrades and good metering options in chosen areas to cut back technical and industrial losses whereas enhancing service supply.
“We are not there yet, but we are starting to get there,” he mentioned, assuring shoppers that the corporate is dedicated to addressing their complaints.
Dosumu mentioned the discussion board supplied a chance for the corporate to have interaction immediately with prospects and resolve excellent points.
Earlier, Mr Adeniran Ogunbawo, Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Ikorodu West, referred to as on IKEDC to offer clearer data on transformer substitute, overloaded services and the dealing with of transformers bought by communities.
Ogunbawo mentioned residents wanted correct data on the variety of transformers awaiting substitute, these already changed and the corporate’s plans for addressing areas experiencing insufficient electrical energy provide.
He expressed concern over a neighborhood in Odogunyan, Akpakin, which reportedly funded electrical energy infrastructure installations however was later knowledgeable that the distribution firm couldn’t take in a refurbished transformer.
He urged IKEDC to offer technical steerage to communities earlier than they invested in transformers and different electrical energy infrastructure to stop them from buying gear that may not meet the corporate’s necessities.
Ogunbawo additionally referred to as for extra collaboration between IKEDC and native councils to handle electrical energy infrastructure deficits, noting that native governments are prepared to assist interventions.
He, nevertheless, acknowledged enhancements in electrical energy provide in some areas and counseled the corporate’s ongoing infrastructure initiatives.
He urged the distribution firm to make sure that transformer capability and different distribution services have been upgraded alongside new injection substations in order that surrounding communities may gain advantage totally from improved energy availability.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that the discussion board introduced collectively electrical energy regulators, distribution firm representatives, client safety officers, neighborhood leaders and residents to debate electricity-related grievances and strengthen accountability in service supply.(NAN)
Edited by Folasade Adeniran
