From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has charged consumers of electricity in the country to exercise their rights and obligations to enable them enjoy electricity supply from the service providers.Commissioner in charge of consumer affairs NERC Aisha Mahmud gave the charge on Thursday in Lokoja, Kogi state during the customer complaints resolution meeting organized by NERC in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA).

According to her, the Commission is an independent body, established by the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 now the Electricity Act of 2023 to undertake technical and economic regulation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. She added that the Commission is to, among others license operators, determine operating codes and standards, establish customer rights and obligations and set cost reflective industry tariffs.The Commissioner stated that the essence of the customer complaints resolution meeting in Kogi State was to sensitize the consumers of electricity their rights and obligations as well as entertaining their complaints with a view to adequately address them.”We have been moving around the country and today it is the turn of Kogi State because most Nigerians are not aware of the existence of regulations guiding electricity supply to customers.”When you pay for electricity, it is duty bound on you as a customer to ensure that AEDC render service to you, if they fail you can report them to the Commission for immediate action”Speaking on the metering, the Commissioner said it is the duty of the AEDC to provide meters free to customers and assured that the Commission would address such complaints.In his opening remarks, the Managing Director AEDC Chyioke Okwuokenye said the meeting was put together to address complaints from customers to enable the company to serve them better.Okwuokenye who was represented by the Chief Business Officer (CBO) in charge of Kogi State Olaseni Agunpopo commended customers for their cooperation and patronage.In her overview on the rights and obligations of the customers, Mercy Ohamuche, a staff of consumer affairs division of NERC, said the customers have the right to tender their complaints for poor electricity supply, lack of meter among others.She added that the customers have the rights for information especially when AEDC is embarking on major repairs that will disrupt the supply of power to customers.Speaking on the customer obligation, Okwuokenye said the customers have the obligation to pay their bills as at when due to enable AEDC serve them better, noting that cordiality with the electricity workers is also the obligation of the customers.”It is the obligation of the consumers to protect electricity equipment by reporting vandalization to the appropriate quarters”