TheCable

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says power supply through the national grid has dropped below 2,800 megawatts (MW) due to vandalism.

This is the lowest since May 2015, and the lowest since President Muhammadu Buhari took power.

The supply, which peaked at 5000 MW in past two weeks, hit its lowest since May 2015, when it dropped to 1,327 MW just before Goodluck Jonathan, former president, left office.

Anthony Akah, acting CEO of the commission, disclosed this while signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC).

In a statement, Usman Abba-Arabi, head public affairs department of NERC, on Wednesday, Akah expressed dissatisfaction over recurrent vandalism in the power sector.

It stated that the NERC boss enjoined the public and the CPC to collaborate with Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and security agencies to safeguard electrical installations.

The statement also said that the NERC would soon compel the DISCOs to publish their meter deployment schedules.

It added that the publication would ensure adherence to the meter roll out plan contained in the performance agreement signed with government by the utility firms.

“Such publication will make unmetered customers to be aware of the estimated period they have to wait before they can be metered,” the statement read in part.

It recalled that NERC had issued warning to the DISCOs against wrongful estimated billings and acts of compelling customers to buy, install and repair transformers and poles.

The statement said the MoU between, NERC and CPC was part of concerted efforts to reduce the incidence of estimated billing completely.

According to the statement, Modupe Atoki, director general of CPC, commended NERC for the long standing relationship between the two agencies.

Atoki expressed CPC’s cooperation and renewed effort to protect electricity consumers from abuse of their rights.