NERC bans mass disconnection of consumers

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Tuesday announced an outright ban on the mass disconnection of electricity consumers by power distribution companies across the country, The Punch reports.

In May, the Executive Director, Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors, Mr. Sunday Oduntan confirmed the mass disconnection exercise of chronic debtors, who allegedly owed them N94bn. But NERC, in a public announcement on Tuesday, said its attention had been drawn to incidents of mass disconnection of electricity supply to communities, villages, local government areas and estates by the distribution companies on the excuse of non-payment of electricity bills.

It said that the commission has developed procedures for disconnection of defaulting customers as contained in the regulation on connection and disconnection of electricity services and that the commission has also banned mass disconnection of electricity customers. As such any community, village, local government area or estate wrongfully disconnected from electricity supply should report to the commission for its further action.