Kunle Kalejaye
11 January 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC has extended the November 30, 2016, deadline for Distribution Companies, DISCOs to meter Maximum Demand Electricity Customers within their network.
NERC had in June 2016, directed all DISCOs to conclude metering of all maximum demand (MD) electricity customers in their networks not later than November 30, 2016.
However, at the expiration of the notice, NERC in public notice granted three months moratorium which expires February 28, 2017, to enable the Discos effectively execute the metering deployment plan for MD customers stressing that failure to comply will attract regulatory actions against defaulting DISCOs beginning March 2017.
“Any electricity customer on MD category who is yet to be metered as at February 28, 2017, should report to the Commission through any of our Forum Offices,” NERC said.
The commission explained that electricity customers who have advanced money to the electricity distribution companies through the now wound down Credited Advance Payment for Metering Initiatives (CAPMI) are advised to make use of this complaint redress mechanism.
“The Commission is by this notice advising electricity customers not to take laws into their hands by attacking staff of electricity distribution companies. They may wish to be guided not to resort to legal proceedings as the first option in seeking redress, but to explore the Commission’s redress mechanism to save litigation cost and time.”
