Electricity: NERC makes case for prompt payment of bills
Augustine Okezie,Abuja.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has called on stakeholders, and consumers of energy to settle their electricity bills promptly to ensure that the sector remain liquid enough for investment decisions and make power more readily available to Nigerians.
A press statement which was signed by the agency’s Head of Public Relations, Dr Usman Abba Rabi, and made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, said the Acting Chairman, Dr. Anthony Akah who made the call at the inauguration of the Makurdi Forum Office also advised state govts. to emulate Benue State by promptly settling electricity bills owed by states’ ministries, departments and agencies.
A Forum Office usually attends to electricity customer complaints not satisfactorily treated at the customer care unit of the electricity distribution company.
He said, “Benue State is considered a critical partner being the first to offer landed property to the Commission for office accommodation. We require further collaboration that would involve JEDC, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), the Commission and the state government to address safety concerns in the state.”
On safety issues the NERC boss warned against erecting structures under electrical installation thereby constituting threat to safety of lives and properties.
He said that collaborative efforts would be required with relevant state and Federal government agencies working with the Commission to ensure that people respect right of way of electrical installations to prevent accidents.
Responding, the Chief of Staff to the Governor Ortom, Mr. Terwase Orbunde, said that the state was ready to collaborate with relevant Federal agencies on safety issues. He said that the governor would be briefed on requests made by the Commission.
He further disclosed that several investors have approached the state government on investment prospect for independent power production and that Governor Ortom might be approaching the Commission for necessary regulatory guidance on independent productions in the state.
