The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Tunji Bello, has charged electricity distribution companies to prioritise the rights of consumers in electricity metering processes.
He made this call on Tuesday during a meeting between key stakeholders from Nigeria’s electricity sector and the FCCPC in Abuja. “We are here today because consumers’ rights in metering must be a priority,” Bello said.
“The recent challenges, especially the arbitrary billing practices and the lack of transparency in metering are unacceptable. We must ensure that consumers are treated fairly and that all practices adhere to the guidelines set out by regulatory bodies like the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission,” he added.
The meeting addressed mounting concerns over metering issues, including billing discrepancies and the handling of obsolete meters, particularly in the wake of recent announcements by DisCos.
Bello’s remarks came as the FCCPC addressed growing concerns over the phase-out of the Unistar prepaid meter model, which could potentially create additional hardships for consumers.