Doris Ferdinand
The House of Representatives, on Thursday resolved to summon Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs), Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in view of finding a lasting solutions to Electricity challenges in the country.
The House expressed it’s misgivings over numerous complaints on transferred debt by Electricity consumers.
In a motion sponsored by Hon Shoyinka Abiola Olatunji, the lawmaker faulted DISCO over poor services and non adherence to laydown principles and guidelines by Regulatory Authorities towards unpaid bills.
“The constant complaints by electricity consumers on the poor services provided by
Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) which are also in the habit of transferring outstanding debts of old customer to new users.
“The Distribution Companies, which are responsible for the collection of payments for services rendered to consumers allow unpaid bills to accumulate, do not follow the laydown principles and guidelines by Regulatory Authorities towards unpaid bills and disconnection of non paying customers.
“If nothing is done to curb the act of transferring debts incurred by other consumers to new consumers, the later will continue to bear the burden of paying for the electricity they did not consume.”
Contributing to the debate, Hon Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta State) urged the house Committee on Electricity to ensure that all those who owe pay their debt.
“Committee concern, should look into it critically that even the customer that have defaulted over the years can be recalled on such bills instead of transferring such bills to the new customers.”
According to Hon. Olumide Osoba, Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode federal constituency Ogun State: I’ll like to include Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission. They are the ones that regulate DISCO, I’ll like to include them in committee on power inviting them along with the DISCO.”
Hon Tobi Okechukwu (PDP-Enugu State) said: “There is privy of contract. Nobody should inherit anybody’s liability. The committee should investigate the status of prepaid meter as a policy of the Federal government. It’s level of implementation.”
