As part of efforts by the Federal Government to unbundle the Power Holding Company of Nigeria{PHCN} and provide the transition of the private sector taking over service delivery in electricity distribution and generation, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has opened a Forum Office in Ibadan, Oyo State, solely for the resolution of disputes between electricity consumers and the service providers in the area.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of NERC, Dr Sam Amadi, who was represented by the Commissioner Government and Consumer Affairs Division, Dr Abba Armiya'u stated that the Forum Office was first of its kind which was already launched in Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano and Ikeja.
The Commissioner said the beginning of the transition to the private driven power sector would be challenging, but that it would become similar to the telecoms sector.
He said "a few years ago, the mobile phone was a symbol of the elitist in the society, but what is happening today is different, in no distant future, the power sector would be adequate and reliable".
Armiya'u stated that the Forum would be composed of represntatives from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria{MAN}, the Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture{NACCIMA}, Consumer Protection Council{CPC}, a Non Governmental Organisation{NGO} and an electrical engineer nominated by NERC.
The Commissioner then noted that the Credit Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation{CAPMI} was been rolled out by the Commission, whereby consumers made advanced payments for their meters which would be refunded as part of a rebate for their monthly electricity tariff.
He said the Prepaid Meters were the best technology to eradicate estimated billings sent to electricity consumers.
He then added that the Commission had gone through the screening of meter manufacturers, importers, vendors and installers.
"We went through an evaluation process where we shortlisted companies that were eligible to participate in the scheme, we have over 80 of them on the list depending on the category", he said.
The Commissioner lauded the efforts of engineers in the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company{IBEDC}. "I can guarantee you what we see in Abuja in terms of performance of Ibadan, it’s quite outstanding", he said.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the IBEDC said that the power sector reform had put machineries in place that in a matter of a year or two, results would be achieved.
He stated that the IBEDC was the biggest in the country, comprising of Ota, Lagos-Ibadan express way, Kainji, Niger State, Keyama, Ekiti and Kogi.
The event provided an opportunity for consumers at the premises of the event to come face to face with electricity service providers to lay their complaints.
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