Electricity consumers are unhappy that the NERC has created a pseudo-monopoly market in the production of meters by locally.
They said the inability of the firms to manufacture enough meters for consumers was encouraging crazy billing by the DISCOS’.
A consumer, who identified himself as Mr. Joe Ajudo complained that the NERC has created a pseudo-monopoly for local meter manufacturers in terms of revenue generation. This negligence of the commission, according to him, has culminated in the inability of the firms to meter accurately and the reluctance of customers to pay. He urged NERC to address the issue of metering alongside tariff hike.
A power consumer, who is also the Publicity Secretary, Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said that there is no basis for tariff hike in the sector since the present power supply is only marginal.
He submitted that it is obvious that the investors in distribution and generation companies are the ones compelling the commission to increase the tariff. According to him, since investment in power companies is for a long time, the operators should not be in a hurry to recoup their investment in a while. Okechukwu advised the companies to suspend price hike until power supply increases significantly.
Any arbitrary tariff hike is tantamount to double taxation, he said, stressing that the government must shield consumers from double taxation.
Okechukwu said: “We don’t want the customers to pay double taxation. Any increase that is arbitrary is double taxation. Investors should bear in mind that what they invested in is like a marathon investment. It is not a day matter. With privatisation we have given it to them and let them not be in a hurry to recover their money. From all indications they are the ones pushing NERC. Power investment in generation and distribution is not a one-day thing.”
The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Peter Ozon-Eson, said the organised labour was yet to get the details of the tariff review. He reiterated that the congress has always held that tariffs from the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) are already exorbitant.
He noted that the labour leaders have always warned the commission not to approve any tariff increase with a corresponding improvement in power supply in such a way that consumers no longer need alternatives to power from the distribution firms.
Ozon-Eson, who is also the chief economist of the NLC, said: “I don’t have the facts with me now. But, generally our argument has been that the tariffs are already very high, and the consumers should not be subjected to further hikes. This is particularly in view of the fact that electricity supply has not stabilised as people still have to make alternative arrangements -provision for standby generators and all that. To now increase tariff is to make the total bearing of energy provision to become too burdensome on the consumers. That has been our general position.”
From the angst of the consumers, it is clear that they are poised for a showdown on the issue of tariff hike. Although, they remain at the mercy of the commission and presidency, only time will tell who will bow first to pressure.