By Chris Ochayi

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC has called on electricity consumers to be organised and challenge the operators in the sector in order to effectively address complaints arising from electricity tariff setting, metering and billing by power firms. The Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, who stated this in Abuja during the inaugural meeting of the Nigerian Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network, noted that there is need for consumer advocacy organisation in the system.

Solar powered community water project at Uturu Abia State

According to Amadi, “there was the need to have a consumer advocacy organisation that could easily build technical and political capability to effectively challenge other organised interest in the electricity market.”

He stated that in spite of the noble intent and progressive actions of the commission, outcomes were still not fair to consumers, stressing that “until consumers are organised and therefore able to contend against operators, the democracy bargain in the Nigerian electricity market will remain deficient.”

Amadi explained, “The organised consumer advocacy is not just focusing on challenging operators in tariff setting and such other commercial activities like metering and billing. ”It should also step up as a major contributor to big debates about building smart grid, clean energy, privatisation and modernisation of the electricity grid. It should also be involved in debate about the constitutional framework for energy policy in Nigeria.”

In his remarks, the National Coordinator, Electricity Consumer Enlightment initiative (ECEI) Ganiyu Makanjuola, said the network will help in providing a unifying front by which the consumers can press their demand.