NERC asks DisCos to disconnect defaulting MDAs – TheNigerialawyer

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has asked
electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to disconnect
government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) who are
defaulting in the payment of energy bills.

In a notice signed by Dafe Akpeneye, commissioner for legal,
licensing and compliance, on Tuesday, the regulator said the
responsibility of revenue collection from all customers including
MDAs of states and federal governments lies with the DisCos.

The commission also asked the power firms to install prepaid
meters in all the MDAs within a period of 60 days.

“The Order reiterated that the responsibility and initiative for
revenue collections from all customers including Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (“MDAs”) of States and Federal Government
rests with DisCos,” the notice read.

“Accordingly, this Order made it mandatory for all DisCos to
meter all MDAs with appropriate meters of their choice within 60
days from the effective date of this Order.

“All DisCos reserve the right to disconnect any MDAs defaulting
in the payment for electricity in line with the Regulation on
Connection and Disconnection Procedures for electricity
services.”

According to the commission, there was a decrease in the total
revenue collected by 11 DisCos.

“The total revenue collected by eleven (11) DisCos from
customers in the first quarter of 2019 stood at ₦116.9 billion out
of the total billing of ₦182.8 billion,” it said.

“Despite the increase in the amount of energy received by DisCos
and a higher billing efficiency recorded relative to the preceding
quarter, there is a 0.5% decrease in the total revenue collected by
DisCos in the first quarter of 2019 when compared to ₦117.5billion
collected in the last quarter of 2018.”