Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has stated that communities that are having issues with their transformers or electricity poles could get them fixed while entering into agreements with electricity distribution companies (Discos) in their area.
NERC’s Principal Manager of Market Competition and Rates, Chigozie Valerie Azikiwe, while speaking during an enlightenment and protection workshop for staff Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), explained that such scenario makes the community an investor in the Discos.
Azikiwe expressed that the communities can be paid back through energy units of the same value they spent on fixing the transformers. She however said that before any community engages in such a project, they will need to have an agreement with the Disco from the beginning to the end of the project.
According to her, “in terms of repayment, there is a process, but one mistake that a lot of people make is to purchase transformers or poles without discussing with their Disco first.
“The right process is to talk to the Disco before purchasing the transformer. The repayment is not cash. What is obtainable now is energy credit, but you must follow the process of engaging the network owner from day one.”