PHCN Head office

By Chineme Okafor and Saka Ibrahim

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Abuja Distribution Company has described the recent drop in power supply to some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a peculiar challenge associated with such areas of the city.

But, the Commissioner in charge of Government and Consumer Affairs of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Abba A. Ibrahim, has said the government and consumer affairs division will articulate policies that would promote and protect the rights and interest of electricity consumer in Nigeria.

However, the spokesman of PHCN Abuja Disco, Mr. Adebowale Adegoke, stated yesterday in a telephone conversation with THISDAY in Abuja that some parts of the city; Kubwa, Karu, Lugbe and Life Camp which had in the last couple of days witnessed some extent of drop in electricity supply to them are currently experiencing challenges linked to distribution infrastructures.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim, who gave the assurance Thursday at a one-day workshop on the importance of the electricity regulatory system in Nigeria at the presidential hall in Brinin Kebbi, Kebbi State, quoted section 32 sub-section (1) of the Act establishing NERC as saying the commission would create, promote and preserve efficient industry and market structures and to also ensure the optimal utilisation of resources for the provision of electricity services.

He further explained that the commission had also the right to protect consumer services by providing them with essential services for safe and reliable electricity.

“The right to transparent billing and adequate information which inspired the commission regulation on meter reading, billing, cash collections and credit management for electricity,” he said.

He also pointed out that the four instruments specifically designed to protect the consumer in the Nigerian electricity supply industry are, the connection and disconnection procedures for electricity services, the customer service standards of performance for distribution companies, meter reading, billing, cash collections and credit management for electricity services and customer complains handling standards and procedures.

The commissioner then urged the staffs of the PHCN that the recent reform of the power sector would affect then and it will also be their advantage while the Federal Government was working out a modality ensuring that the issue of labour will not occur and affect the staffs after the reformed.