Barely two months after the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission declared the meter maintenance fee charged by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria illegal, the regulatory agency on Wednesday set up a committee to probe the metering practices in the electricity industry.The committee headed by activist lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, has three months to submit its report.It is expected to conduct public inquiry in order to determine the metering practices of PHCN, including corrupt, exploitative and illegal practices of the workers at the successor distribution companies.Our correspondent learnt that the findings of the committee would help the regulatory agency make orders necessary to address complaints on metering, billing and customer care by electricity consumers.It was also gathered that the committee would determine the factors that led to delays in the procurement and installation of meters in accordance with rules and regulations in the industry, and the deployment plans.The committee, which will determine the extent of metering in the industry, is also expected to suggest how NERC can ensure effective and quick metering of electricity consumers in the country.Other terms of reference handed to the committee included suggesting remedial actions to be taken to deal with lapses and corrupt practices as well as devising a framework for effective implementation and monitoring of metering and billing activities.At the inauguration of the committee in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, said metering was critical to the electricity industry, especially now that privatisation was in progress.He said transparency and accountability as well as a governance framework for the management of electricity should be in place as the Federal Government was targeting improved supply.Amadi said, The major complaint of the consuming public centres around experience of customers with regards to metering, billing and customer care. The inadequate supply of energy is the most important technical issue but is not the priority social or human issue.The corruption of staff of utilities, who exploit customers in many ways, is the major challenge in the sector. This assertion, however, needs to be verified and stopped.In order to ensure transparency and openness in the process of addressing the root cause of this debilitating malaise, the commission is initiating this fact finding mission with the active participation of some distinguished members of the Nigerian population selected from all parts of the country.They have been given a free hand to modify as appropriate the methodology for successfully implementing the exercise. This is a fact-finding and exploratory mission and not a witch-hunting process.He added that the membership of the committee cut across various sectors and disciplines including labour and civil society.Aturu said the assignment was crucial and pledged that the committee would be fair and thorough in its work.NERC had on November 1, 2011, declared that the meter maintenance fee charged by PHCN was illegal. While asking the company to discontinue the charge, NERC said the fee was introduced to boost the revenue profile of the power utility.The regulatory agency had in September approved the release of about N2.9bn to the electricity distribution companies to aid their procurement of the meters.The inquiry may cover the utilisation of this fund.
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