The Electricity Consumers Protection Advocacy Centre (ECPAC) has called on the federal government to include consumer representatives in the committee inaugurated to decentralise the electricity market.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, recently inaugurated a nine-member inter-agency committee to address issues surrounding the decentralisation of the electricity market.

The committee is also expected to drive sustained stakeholder engagement and resolve emerging issues arising from the implementation of the Electricity Act, 2023.

Members of the committee were given four weeks to review issues raised during a workshop on the decentralisation of the nation’s electricity market.

Within the period, they are expected to engage with other stakeholders and submit their recommendations.

Princewill Okorie, executive director of ECPAC, made the call on behalf of consumers at a news conference in Abuja on Saturday.

Mr Okorie said the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and electricity consumer advocacy groups were excluded from the committee’s composition.

“The committee members were drawn from the electricity supply and demand industry, while consumers, who are the key stakeholders on the demand side, were clearly excluded.

“The committee comprises representatives of the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc.

“It also includes representatives of the Rural Electrification Agency, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, and Generation Companies,” he said.

According to him, the absence of consumer representation and the exclusion of the FCCPC from the committee constitute a violation of Section 34(1)(f) of the Electricity Act, 2023, which requires that regulation be fair and balanced for consumers, licensees, and investors.

Mr Okorie also called on the federal government to address what he described as “electricity crimes” allegedly perpetrated by licensed Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) against consumers.

He defined electricity crimes to include electricity theft, vandalism, unlawful billing, unauthorised takeover of infrastructure provided by non-licensees, illegal disconnections, failure to repair faults in line with customer service standards, and bulk billing practices.

“By engaging in these practices, the DisCos violate Section 29(6) of NERC’s Customer Protection Regulation,” he said.

Mr Okorie, however, urged the Minister of Power and the Senate, which is currently considering amendments to the Electricity Act, 2023, to prioritise measures that prevent electricity crimes and strengthen consumer protection.

“Any future amendment to the electricity act should focus specifically on strengthening consumer protection and crime-prevention provisions,” he said.

(NAN)