NERC moves to address power consumers’ complaints
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, on Wednesday, unveiled its service charter, which provides details on the rights, obligations and redresses mechanisms by the regulator to power users nationwide.
It said the charter also contained service standards that would guide the commission in discharging its responsibilities to both internal and external stakeholders.
“The NERC service charter has summarised the mutual expectations of the commission and stakeholders by detailing service levels, rights, obligations and redress mechanisms,” the Chairman, NERC, Sanusi Garba, stated in Abuja.
He said the mission of the commission was to promote and ensure investor friendly industry, and efficient market structure to meet the need of Nigeria for safe, adequate, reliable and affordable electricity.
“Regulating public utilities is to ensure that Nigerians get the service they deserve efficiently and effectively. So on our part as the commission, the law clearly provides timeliness within which we must act. We commit to efficient service delivery to our clients and stakeholders,” Garba stated.
The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, said the essence of the charter was to provide vital information regarding the functions and services rendered by the commission to the public.
He stressed the effective implementation of the charter and encourage the commission to be customer focused and citizen-centred in carrying out its responsibilities.
“It is important to point out that effective implementation of this charter will definitely improve service delivery and educate citizens on the rights and obligations of electricity consumers.
“It will also help to address complaints through the redress mechanisms put in place to improve staff competence and skill, as well as produce result-based performance,” the minister stated.
The Commissioner, Consumer Affairs Division, NERC, Aisha Mahmud, said it was the first service charter to be unveiled by the commission, which showed the regulator’s commitment to effective service delivery.
“This is the first time we are launching the commission’s servicom, but we have been working with servicom. This launch today will strengthen an existing relationship with servicom.”