NERC cautions consumers against buying transformers, cables, others for DisCos

*The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission urges consumers in Anambra State to report any request by officials of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company for purchase of transformers, cables, or poles, stressing such items are investments of DisCos, and not consumers’ responsibility

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As part of its consumer education and sensitisation efforts, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) again, has urged consumers in Anambra State, South-East region, to report any request by officials of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) for purchase of transformers, cables, or poles.

ConsumerConnect gathered NERC particularly emphasised that such equipment are investments of the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) and not the responsibility of consumers.

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Hajiya Aisha Mohammed, Commissioner for Stakeholders Management at NERC, stated this while speaking at a recent Town Hall meeting held in Awka, Anambra State capital.

Represented at the forum by Dr. Zubairu Babatunde, Head of Consumer Protection of the Commission, Hajiya Mohammed said reports of such incidents should be documented and forwarded to NERC for prompt action.

She also said: “NERC regulates the operations of the Distribution Companies, and ensures customers are not short-changed.

“If consumers are dissatisfied with services, they should channel their complaints appropriately. “We are also here to listen to your concerns and for the DisCos to respond directly.”

Other consumer issues raised at the meeting included metering, billing, electricity supply, and service quality.

NERC officials, who would be in Anambra for three days, also supervised the acquisition of prepayment electricity meters during the exercise.

The Commission also assured consumers would receive their prepayment electricity meters within the period.

Dr. Idika Okechukwu, Chief Information Officer of EEDC, representing the company’s Managing Director, reportedly said a meter laboratory had been established in Onitsha, Anambra State, to fast-track installations.

The Chief Information Officer of Okechukwu as well assured that any consumers who pay for meters would receive such, and have them installed within 72 hours.

According to him, 750,000 of the 1,365,400 electricity consumers in Anambra State have been metered, and the power company remains committed to complying with NERC’s metering regulations.

EEDC will introduce an offline bill payment system before the end of September 2025, to make payment easier for customers, Dr. Okechukwu said.