FCCPC orders IBEDC to refund consumers’ investment in transformers

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to refund consumers for investments made successful purchasing transformers, poles, cables, and related infrastructure.

The Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice-Chairman of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, issued the directive astatine the FCCPC Electricity Consumer Forum held successful Ota, Ogun State.

Bello, who was represented by an authoritative of the commission, Mrs. Bridget Etim, stated that it is not the work of consumers to procure transformers, cables, oregon electrical poles, and that specified investments indispensable beryllium refunded by the DisCo whenever made.

At the forum, which took spot successful Ilogbo, Oju-Ore country of the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, assemblage leaders nether assorted Community Development Committees (CDCs) and Associations alleged that IBEDC had consistently failed to respond to their complaints contempt respective letters.

Chairman of the Ado-Odo/Ota Zonal CDC, Mr Olatunji Onaolapo, decried what helium described arsenic the nonchalant cognition of IBEDC officials.

According to him, consumers present carnivore the costs of infrastructure that should ordinarily beryllium provided by the energy company, yet galore communities stay without power.

“In Itele-Ota alone, our radical person bought up to 80 transformers. IBEDC did not acquisition a azygous one. We adjacent wage for energisation and beg them to instal a transformer they ought to person provided. It is unacceptable,” helium said.
Responding, the IBEDC Business Manager for Ogun State, Mr Abdulrasaq Jimoh, blamed the communities for purchasing transformers without consulting the company.

Jimoh said communities were expected to pass the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of their volition to procure transformers oregon related items earlier proceeding.

However, Mrs Etim interrupted, saying, “I disagree.” She explained that consumers are not required to question NERC’s support directly, adding that it is the work of the DisCo to escalate specified matters to the regulator.

“We are not going to judge that arsenic a commission. For erstwhile investments, we were not aware. But going forward, IBEDC indispensable refund consumers for immoderate investments made successful its network,” she said.

Etim cited Jos Electricity Distribution Company arsenic an example, noting that it had refunded consumers who invested successful web upgrades without anterior notification to NERC oregon the FCCPC.

“I privation IBEDC to alteration and larn from this,” she added. She advised consumers to pass the FCCPC whenever they mean to put successful DisCo networks, to facilitate refunds done vigor credits.

Presenting Bello’s opening address, Etim said the three-day forum was convened nether Sections 17, 127, 130, and 151 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018. She said the forum aimed to span the spread betwixt consumers and work providers successful the energy sector.

“Electricity is not simply a commodity; it is simply a captious work that powers livelihoods, businesses, and economical progress. However, the manufacture continues to grapple with issues specified arsenic insufficient metering, billing inaccuracies, and infrastructure challenges, each of which necessitate urgent and collaborative resolution.

“This forum presents a non-adversarial level for dialogue. Consumers volition summation clarity connected their rights and responsibilities, portion IBEDC caseworkers volition beryllium disposable to code grievances connected the spot. This aligns with our mandate to guarantee that user extortion is practical, accessible, and responsive.

“At the bosom of the FCCPC’s interventions is the designation that energy consumers are entitled to fairness, transparency, and accountability. We are guided by the FCCPA to pass and amended consumers, facilitate ailment resolution, promote just commercialized practices, and beforehand collaborative engagement to amended work transportation crossed the sector,” she stated.