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 shopper complaints discussion board in Ikorodu, to deal with 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, stated the initiative was designed to deal with persistent complaints regarding 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 stated the programme adopted a proper request by the Ikorodu West group for the fee to have interaction residents and assist resolve long-standing electricity-related challenges.
He stated the fee was dedicated to defending shoppers’ rights to honest therapy, correct billing, clear info and efficient redress at any time when service suppliers failed to satisfy 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 stated.
He urged electrical energy shoppers to know and train their rights, together with the fitting to metering, correct payments, correct discover earlier than disconnection and entry to criticism decision mechanisms.
The FCCPC chief govt 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 stated.
He warned that the fee wouldn’t hesitate to deploy its enforcement powers the place engagement didn’t safe compliance with shopper 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 licensed earlier than set up.
Oladokun suggested shoppers to ask installers for proof of certification and verify 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 stated.
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), stated the company had been collaborating with IKEDC to resolve shopper complaints.
Abiodun stated the partnership included a month-to-month discussion board held on the final Thursday of each month, by way of which a number of electricity-related disputes, notably 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 stated.
Mr Ayodele Dosumu, Chief Commercial Manager of IKEDC, stated the corporate was investing in infrastructure and metering initiatives to enhance electrical energy provide and buyer expertise throughout its franchise space.
Dosumu stated the corporate had delivered about 15,000 single-phase and three-phase meters in Ikorodu over the previous 4 years by way of numerous metering programmes.
He stated the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) programme was ongoing, whereas the corporate was establishing 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 stated IKEDC had additionally changed about 30 transformers over the previous 4 years and plans to exchange an extra 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 bettering service supply.
“We are not there yet, but we are starting to get there,” he stated, assuring shoppers that the corporate is dedicated to addressing their complaints.
Dosumu stated the discussion board offered a chance for the corporate to have interaction instantly with clients and resolve excellent points.
Earlier, Mr Adeniran Ogunbawo, Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Ikorodu West, known as on IKEDC to offer clearer info on transformer alternative, overloaded services and the dealing with of transformers bought by communities.
Ogunbawo stated residents wanted correct info on the variety of transformers awaiting alternative, these already changed and the corporate’s plans for addressing areas experiencing insufficient electrical energy provide.
He expressed concern over a group in Odogunyan, Akpakin, which reportedly funded electrical energy infrastructure installations however was later knowledgeable that the distribution firm couldn’t take up a refurbished transformer.
He urged IKEDC to offer technical steering to communities earlier than they invested in transformers and different electrical energy infrastructure to forestall them from buying gear that may not meet the corporate’s necessities.
Ogunbawo additionally known as for extra collaboration between IKEDC and native councils to deal with 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 recommended 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 absolutely from improved energy availability.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reviews that the discussion board introduced collectively electrical energy regulators, distribution firm representatives, shopper safety officers, group leaders and residents to debate electricity-related grievances and strengthen accountability in service supply.(NAN)
Edited by Folasade Adeniran
