Discos: Why We Took Control of Assets Bought By Communities, Collect Reconnection Fee

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) yesterday explained that electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) assume ownership of electrical assets voluntarily acquired by customers to ensure safety.

In a statement signed by ANED’s Executive Director for Research and Advocacy, Sunday Oduntan, the umbrella body of all Discos said it boils down to the need to ensure indemnity.

The organisation said it was responding to public enquiries on why its members take control of such assets bought by communities as well as why it charges a fee for reconnection.

“Many people have asked that question and the answer is simple, and we feel it is important to shed light on it for the sake of public awareness. It is a case of indemnity and protection.

“The Discos take responsibility for any incident that happens with those infrastructure. It is important for Nigerians to understand that Discos have a responsibility to ensure that only good quality equipment duly certified by Nigerian Electricity Management and Safety Agency (NEMSA) are installed in our network,” the spokesman said.

According to him, after installation, Discos will have to take steps to protect such equipment such that it will be safe for use by customers.

“We have had occasions where some transformers that were installed in the days of PHCN, for instance in Lugbe, Abuja, caused electrocution.

“We need to protect the equipment and ensure that access is only granted to qualified personnel. People have lost their lives because they were trying to maintain their transformers,” ANED added.

The association added that this was why it often request that customers write letter of donation to the Discos, stressing that if the items do not belong to the Discos, they cannot exercise any right over their use, neither would they bear liability for any incident that occurs thereafter.

“It is our responsibility as Discos to make electricity infrastructure available and we do a lot of this. However, in situations where the demand is far more than supply due to shortage of funds, customers do step in to help their communities,” the Discos noted.

Stressing that its members since privatisation in 2013, had invested considerably in improving the networks, ANED stated that the reality remained the absence of infrastructure was acute across the length and breadth of the country.

Considering the huge cost of revamping inherited networks as well as the critical need for power supply to homes and businesses, ANED said it was understandable when communities decide to step in rather than take the option of waiting till resources needed to services their needs are appropriated by their respective Discos.

“The issue of community volunteering is very clearly stipulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). For those who follow NERC’s guidelines, there will be no argument at the end of the day,” Oduntan said.

He also maintained that accusations surrounding disconnections and reconnection fees charged by Discos were unfair, saying disconnection was a legitimate recourse available to the service providers under certain conditions.

According to him, the reconnection fee is a penalty to dissuade repeat offenders and cover cost.

“Now, most times, we hear complaints of by customers regarding disconnection. The truth is that there are clear grounds for disconnections. Disconnections are not random and there are clear guidelines stipulated by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) under which disconnections can take place,” he noted.

According to him, disconnections can occur when a customer owes accumulated bills of over 90 days or when a customer is found engaging in energy theft or tampering with distribution equipment.

“It is statutory to charge a fee to cover the operations and to deter repeat offenders. This is not a practice that is restricted to Nigeria only.

“Time and resources are expended in both disconnecting and reconnecting a customer due to an act of the customer. If there is no penalty attached to that, then there is no deterrence,” he said.