Repairs of faulty transformers are the responsibility of distribution companies (DisCos) and not communities.
This is according to Mr. Tony Essien, the AGM, of Consumer Affairs at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
He said this at the Electricity Consumers Enlightenment and Protection Workshop for staff of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which came to an end on Wednesday, July 19. Mr. Essien said if transformer repairs are done by any community, they should be repaid by their DisCo.
He said:
- “On Communities repairing transformers, that forms an investment. If the transformer goes faulty, the DisCos are to repair it.
- “However, if a DisCo agrees for the community to fix it, it should be clearly spelt out that it is covered as an investment, what it costs, and the repayment.
- “If an agreement of investment is in place and the DisCo does not honour it, you can seek redress from NERC.”
Meanwhile, Chigozie Valerie Azikiwe, the Principal Manager of Market Competition and Rates at NERC, advised electricity consumers to discuss their need for new transformers and poles with their respective DisCos before a purchase is made. She said:
- “In terms of repayment, there is a process. One mistake a lot of people make is to purchase transformers or poles without discussing them with their DisCo.
- “The right process is to talk to the DisCo before purchasing the transformer. The repayment is not cash. What is obtainable now is energy credit, but you must follow the process of engaging the network owner from day one.
- “We consider consumer protection in everything we do here at NERC.”
Strengthening consumer knowledge
Omagu Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director of Surveillance and Investigation at FCCPC, suggested that NERC should provide clarity to electricity consumers on what their rights are. She highlighted the repairs of transformers. She said:
- “Tell consumers that if they want to repair a transformer, they should write formally to their DisCo and copy NERC so the DisCo in question, will know that NERC is aware.”
- Meanwhile, Ms. Azikiwe urged consumers to spread knowledge on the right processes to follow. She said:
- “Be our champions; tell consumers to follow the right process.
- “A lot of people don’t know these regulations exist. That is why we have these enlightenment workshops. If you know, let your neighbours know.”
What you should know
In April 2023, NERC launched an electricity service charter and among other rules, it maintained that after an electricity complaint is filed, the DisCo involved must visit the location within 24 hours to take steps to fix the problem.
If the fault was caused by a bad fuse, it must be replaced and reconnected within 24 hours, the same applies for other minor equipment faults. However, repairs must be carried out within 48 hours for other unnamed issues.
It’s depends on when they will finally come to fix it. Maybe after like 2 years or more. NERC is a toothless bulldog.
Is NERC just waking up what of all the the transformers and materials that has been paid for by the communities, estates and individuals over the years. NERC has been looking the other ways since. it is a pity DISCO has been reaping us up for many years. They need to refund our monies.
Please do something about this light around MOWE, ASESe… Owode-Oremerimu exist ,.. they don’t have steady light here … two days no light and when they bring it within an hour they take it till further notice, please do something about it to give us constant light thank you, my meter is not reading due to the fact that there is no steady light , how are you guys going to make incomes if I didn’t buy light???
Nerc is best option, it’s just that we customers don’t know much about nerc, and most of customers don’t have the time for complain, then the discos discovered we don’t have the time so that’s why they used all manners of
intimidations against their customers,
Just imagine discos using police against its own customers, for no reason all this BCS we don’t lay our complains to NERC
NERC is a toothless regulator.
They sold us cheap to the DISCOs. They have. vested interest in the DISCOs.
Now that the FG is about to import prepaid meters through world bank. The local prepaid manufacturers have started complaining that they have the capacity. If they have the capacity why haven’t they supplied prepaid meters to all homes?
The Meter providers also sabotaged the consumers by collaborating with the DISCOS to frustrate electricity consumers.
Ask the Meter providers why they adjusted their meters to run faster. Why do meters read when DISCOs deliver low currents? The old. prepaid meters weren’t functioning like the ones being installed and produced locally. They knew that the imported ones will work perfectly according to globally acceptable standards. That is why they want to frustrate the efforts.
Now where is NERC in all of these?
NERC & Discos are paddy paddy. They have been robbing each other’s back since. All these empty promises by the regulatory body na rubbish. Tooth less bulldog as rightly described above. You are talking about Poles, what about transformers bought by communities & the Discos will claim ownership?
Crazy bills abound. I can go on & on.
The issue we have in Nigeria is sumountable, however few people wants beareacracy to be the order of the day so money would change hands ( corruption). NERC knows that communities buy transformers and nobody has been sanctioned. People are the problem of Nigeria. NERC I am suspecting a toothless bulldog here.
If transformer get fulty is community taken the responsibility of repair and fix, we only ask our politicians to assist us and buy new transformer
Story story. That is on paper but in reality, it’s same Discos that will ask you through their body language or expressly that you should buy, repair and even buy the cables and pole to take light to your house or else till eternity you won’t get it. The most painful part of it is that as soon as you purchase those everything according to their” so-called law” becomes their property.