The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said on Wednesday that a power outage reporting application would be launched soon to address complaints about outages across the country.
Dr Musiliu Oseni, NERC Vice-Chairman, made the announcement at the inauguration of the Ogun Complaints Forum Office in Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.
According to Oseni, the app’s creation will assist NERC in making the process of reporting power outages and enhancing Nigeria’s electricity supply easier and faster.
“This is part of our endeavor to use technology to handle power outage problems,” he said.
He said that the app will be integrated with the systems of the various electricity distribution firms (Discos), triggering warnings as soon as users report power outages.
“The software is already available for download on Google Play and the Apple Store.
“In the next weeks, the trial scheme will begin and be rolled out for Abuja clients, and it will thereafter be rolled out statewide,” he said.
Oseni stated that the new Ogun forum office was the 31st to open across the country, and that NERC wanted to open at least one such office in each state to allow power consumers to file grievances with the agency.
“The power sector continues to face numerous issues, some of which are beyond the utility providers’ control.”
“Some are structural issues that necessitate significant effort and dedication on the part of legislators, regulators, and well-intentioned citizens.”
“The commission aims to make sure that its oversight function is based on worldwide best practices and that it is carried out without bias.”
“This forum office is being unveiled as part of efforts to realize these ambitions,” he stated.
“Any concerns made to the forum will be adjudicated by a five-member panel carefully picked from local communities throughout the state.”
“The panel will analyze each issue based on already established rules and laws in accordance with the Nigerian constitution before making a decision,” he stated.
He did, however, say that the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), which is in charge of Ogun State’s distribution, should be the first port of call for lodging and resolving grievances.
“Customers are supposed to escalate to the NERC forum office only if complaints are not handled or appropriately attended to within two weeks,” he said.
In his remarks, IBEDC’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. John Ayodele, stated that the development demonstrated NERC’s commitment to putting customers first.
The conference, according to Ayodele, was in keeping with the firm’s mission of elevating service delivery to new heights through “customer-centric initiatives,” as stated by Deolu Ijose, Chief Commercial Officer, IBEDC.
He encouraged IBEDC consumers in Ogun to use the firm’s and the NERC’s different venues to get their problems rectified.
“With over two million consumers in our franchise of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, and parts of Ekiti, Kogi, and Niger, there is sure to be some customer dissatisfaction.”
“The opposition to the Utility-Based Tariff (SBT), the capping mechanism, the general economic situation, and the excessive expectations of customers who still regard power as a social service are all issues that regularly produce problems.”
“As a result, the NERC forum office, which will act as a neutral arbiter,” he explained.
In 2021, approximately 134,000 of the 159,000 complaints received across IBEDC’s franchise were handled, according to Ayodele.
He expressed confidence that the forum office will settle thorny problems and assist customers in understanding their rights and obligations.