Oscarline Onwuemenyi
07 June 2016, Sweetcrude, Abuja – In what looks like an immediate about-face, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has ordered the 11 Electricity Distribution companies (Discos) to begin the mass disconnection of ‘persistent’ debtors, including government ministries, agencies and military installations across the country.
This order came few days after the NERC issued a directive banning them from doing mass disconnection. The Discos, through their spokesman, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, said last week that they would only disconnect ‘historic’ debtors.
In the new directive contained in a statement issued, yesterday, NERC said, “The commission has clarified that persistently defaulting customers could be disconnected.”
The clarification, however, came on the heels of the commission’s earlier directives, warning electricity distribution companies against mass disconnection of cities, towns, and villages inclusive of customers, who have paid their electricity bill or have prepaid meter.
The commission’s acting chairman, Dr. Anthony Akah said, “We are unambiguous in our directives that the Discos should observe laid down procedures in disconnecting electricity customers.”
