From today, any electricity consumer, who has not received continuous electricity supply for a period of 15 days in a month, shall not be required to pay the fixed charge, provided disruption is not due to non-payment of electricity bill or other actions from the consumer like tampering, vandalism, or is totally unrelated to the fault of the Electricity Distribution Company (DISCO).
Dr Amadi said: “We must ensure that the DISCOs receive enough money to maintain the network and at the same time, we don’t want it to be an incentive not to respond to faults that they could manage within their existing commitment.”
He said there had been a lot of comments from consumers on fixed charge and concerns as to whether it was fair or legal. “The fixed charge is an element of any electricity bill, not just now. It is not unique to us. It is not fixed that it cannot change from year to year. It is fixed because it is fixed for that month,” he said.
The chairman noted that electricity consumers complained that the commission had changed the tariff without consultation, saying “that is not true, each year has its own tariff.”
Dr Amadi said the fixed charge was a universal practice, and that it was not peculiar to Nigeria.
The chairman said that new tariffs would start from June 1, 2014.
He said the commission would protect electricity consumers and at the same time ensure that the electricity producers recover their cost and be able to continue producing power for the consumers.
“Each time we hear complains, we try to investigate, look at what the issues are and see what appropriate intervention,” he said.
He added that the commission would, by May 8, create a forum office in Benin, Yola and Jos, where electricity issues would be settled.
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