The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has said it is illegal for an electricity distribution company (Disco) to disconnect a customer without first serving a notice for at least 10 working days from the date of delivery of the bill.
FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Babatunde Irukera, stated this on Wednesday, during a four-day electricity consumer complaint resolution platform in Calabar, Cross River State.
Irukera said the Disco must notify the consumer in writing ahead of the disconnection of electricity service, adding that upon payment of an outstanding bill, it has a duty to reconnect the consumer within 24 hours.
The FCCPC boss also bemoaned the abysmal services provided by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, in Calabar and its environs.
He described the Disco’s services to residents of Cross River State “as oppressive” following the reports they received on many issues, including mass disconnection carried out by the company without recourse to the law.
Irukera urged PHED to improve its service, pointing out that the success of the Disco was based on customer satisfaction and not what it generates.
He also said that it was illegal for electricity consumers to buy transformers, and later it becomes PHED property.
“I want to convey to you the incredible displeasure of the people of Cross River, according to them especially the governor, if they have their way, they will prefer the that PHED does not operate in the state.
“The massive disconnection of communities because of debt is not only illegal, it is outrageous, and an abuse of the people’s right, disconnecting the whole community is oppressive.
“There are people in that same community who are consistent, so it is injustice and unfair to also disconnect them.
“Any business that cannot satisfy its consumers is preparing to die. Allowing consumers to pay tariffs without commensurate electricity supply is against the law.
“The problem of compelling consumers to pay electricity bills is tantamount to oppressing and extorting them illegally from consumers.
“What PHED is doing is by forcing customers to pay bills is just to make all agencies fail.
“The commercial contract we have is between the citizens and the power distribution companies, and that is acceptable. People pay for a service, and it is mandatory to provide what they have paid for”, he said.
A staff of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), James Olayemi, was last handed a six months imprisonment for unlawful disconnection of electricity supply to the premises of the company’s customer, Dennis Osanwuta, a management staffer of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Lokoja.
Tanko Muhammed, of the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lokoja, said that Mr Olayemi’s offence was punishable under Section 94 of Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005.