Senate urges Electricity Commission to end fixed charges

The Senate on Tuesday has urged the National Electricity Regulatory Commission to immediately enforce the abolition  of fixed charges being collected from electricity consumers across the country.
It also urged the commission to inquire into numerous complaints before the commission by consumers in line with provision 74 subsection (1) b of the power sector reform act.
They asked the commission to direct the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to discontinue the practice of compulsory bulk metering of villages and communities in the rural areas.
The Senate also called on the commission and the consumer protection council to sensitize electricity consumers on the remedies available to them in the event of inefficient services by the Distribution Companies.
The upper chamber directed the commission to make a regulation to mandate DISCOs to discontinue the practice of making consumers pay for their meters, electricity poles and transformers which by law are properties of the Distribution Companies. They took the decision following a motion moved by Senator Sam Egwu seconded by Senator Dino Melaye.
Leading the debate, Senator Egwu noted that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was established to among others to license and regulate persons engaged in the generation, transmission, system operation distribution and trading of electricity.
He said the commission was empowered by section 32 (1) d of its enabling legal regime to ensure that the price charged by licensees are fair to consumers and are sufficient to allow the licensees finance their activities and allow for reasonable earning for their operations.
Egwu expressed concern that despite all effort by the government, there has been constant arbitrariness whereby electricity consumers are charged extortionate rates, fixed rate based on the use of the billed meters installed by old Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
He added that with the present economic situation in the country, many Nigerians would not be able to access one of the very basic needs of life. He said even Nigerians that have the prepaid meters are being billed a fixed rate of about N700:00 per month and wondered what is the purpose of the fixed rate.
In his contribution, Senator Danjuma Goje said the power reform act will solve the power problems in the country. He said without power, the development of the country would not be possible. Senator Nelson Effiong called for the review of the power reform act for the benefit of the citizens.
Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki commended the Senators for their contributions and promised that the Senate will get to the bottom of problem. “We most get to the bottom of this problem to ensure it benefit our people”, Saraki said.