Sanction DisCos over poor delivery, Reps urge NERC

<p>House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to compel the Distribution Companies (DisCos) to discontinue the extortive practice of estimated/arbitrary billing systems with immediate effect.</p>, <p>This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon Afuape Moruf (APC-Ogun) at the plenary</p>, <p>The House resolved that the companies should be reprimanded for the abysmal services being rendered to Consumers nationwide.</p>, <p>While moving the motion, the lawmakers pointed out that the Electricity Act, 2023, prescribed a comprehensive and institutional framework to guide the operation of a privatized, contract, and rule-based electricity market.</p>, <p>He said that it was within the ambit of which every participant in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) must operate.</p>, <p>He said that the NERC as the NESI regulator has among other obligations to ensure adequate supply of electricity to consumers.</p>, <p>According to him, “it is expected to ensure that prices charged are fair to consumers, though sufficient to allow the finances of Disco’s activities, as well as enable them to make a reasonable profit for efficient operation”.</p>, <p>Hon Moruf said that 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) were entities established by the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, to supply electricity to power consumers with obligations to the respective operational areas.</p>, <p>He said that the companies have the statutory duties to provide for power transmission facilities and other ancillary services to ensure reliability and support the transmission of electricity from generation sites to consumers.</p>, <p>“Concerned that the distribution companies raked in a whooping N247.33 billion in the first quarter of 2023 as against N232.32 billion generated in fourth quarter of 2022, representing a rise by 20.81 per cent compared to N204.74 billion generated first Quarter of 2022 (year-on-year consideration)</p>, <p>“Whereas, electricity supply decli