Dogara, while delivering a remark at the investigative hearing held by the House ad-hoc committee set up to curb excessive electricity charges by the distribution companies, explained that the investigation is being carried out with a view to reducing the financial burden on Nigerians and finding a lasting solution to the crisis currently plaguing the energy sector.
"The House is aware of the financial hardship being experienced by most of our people, due to the high electricity charges by DISCOs. This has further compounded the difficulty brought about by the economic downturn in the country. We are, therefore, determined to get all the facts on the matter, with a view to addressing it", he said.
He revealed that the committee was setup following allegations that after the unbundling of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the DISCOs hurriedly installed new sets of prepaid meters which gobble the units purchased much faster than the older prepaid meters.
He charged the committee to “unravel the veracity of the allegation of the presence of wrongly configured prepaid meters that are over-billing the already impoverished masses of this country” and urged all stakeholders and participants to be objective, truthful and open in their submissions and discussions.
“As a Parliament, we are obliged to be fair to both the service providers and the consumers in our Legislation. Everyone must therefore, seize this opportunity to provide us with all the available information. We must all put heads together to find a lasting solution to the crisis in our Energy Sector, so that all the people of Nigeria can enjoy stable and affordable electricity supply to enhance the quality of our lives,” he said.
He stated that the House is also currently working on legislation which will further protect consumers.
"As most of the stakeholders present here may be aware, the House of Representatives is currently working on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act, 2004, to Prohibit and Criminalize Estimated Billing by Electricity Distribution Companies and Provide for Compulsory Installation of Prepaid Meters to all Power Consumers in Nigeria. The Bill is already at the Committee stage, and it is meant to block another loophole by which the DISCOs are allegedly cheating consumers.
Speaker Dogara described the work of the investigative committee as instrumental to the successful implementation of the proposed law and urged the committee to carry out its assignment expeditiously.
"The House is aware of the financial hardship being experienced by most of our people, due to the high electricity charges by DISCOs. This has further compounded the difficulty brought about by the economic downturn in the country. We are, therefore, determined to get all the facts on the matter, with a view to addressing it", he said.
He revealed that the committee was setup following allegations that after the unbundling of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the DISCOs hurriedly installed new sets of prepaid meters which gobble the units purchased much faster than the older prepaid meters.
He charged the committee to “unravel the veracity of the allegation of the presence of wrongly configured prepaid meters that are over-billing the already impoverished masses of this country” and urged all stakeholders and participants to be objective, truthful and open in their submissions and discussions.
“As a Parliament, we are obliged to be fair to both the service providers and the consumers in our Legislation. Everyone must therefore, seize this opportunity to provide us with all the available information. We must all put heads together to find a lasting solution to the crisis in our Energy Sector, so that all the people of Nigeria can enjoy stable and affordable electricity supply to enhance the quality of our lives,” he said.
He stated that the House is also currently working on legislation which will further protect consumers.
"As most of the stakeholders present here may be aware, the House of Representatives is currently working on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act, 2004, to Prohibit and Criminalize Estimated Billing by Electricity Distribution Companies and Provide for Compulsory Installation of Prepaid Meters to all Power Consumers in Nigeria. The Bill is already at the Committee stage, and it is meant to block another loophole by which the DISCOs are allegedly cheating consumers.
Speaker Dogara described the work of the investigative committee as instrumental to the successful implementation of the proposed law and urged the committee to carry out its assignment expeditiously.
Great good early morning news. So help us God.
ReplyDeleteWe are very good in setting up panel of enquiry in this country,but at the end nothing will come out of it
ReplyDeleteThis should be a good news but we know that most times, not much comes out from this news. Wasn't there a warning of increase in electricity charges? Why wasn't it stopped. Wasnt that easier than this? This was a loooong time ago. I think this is all part of the 2019 campaign
ReplyDeleteAs if we don't know that the owners of this DISCOS can easily bribe the panel set up by the REPS and the would be the end of the committee 😒😒😒😒
ReplyDeleteLEP😛
Welcomed development! They should come to my area called Agbede in Ikorodu Lagos, they will see excessive charges everywhere!!!
ReplyDeleteDISCO thieves!!!!!! All the new meters have been doctored. Units running like a gushing stream. But will anything come out of it.... psst
ReplyDeleteWhen the owners of DISCOs sponsored those in panel of enquiry, what do you get?
ReplyDelete