The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the chief executives officers of generation and distribution companies, market operators, system operators, the bulk trader, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) have pledged their commitment to improving electricity supplies to Nigerians.
They made the commitment at their monthly consultative meeting, vowing to bring about significant changes in the power industry.
Head, public affairs department, NERC, Dr.Usman Abba Arabi, said the participants acknowledged the fact that availability of electricity remained the only thing that can impressNigerians.
It said the participants therefore resolved to trash all inhibiting issues stifling the attainment of consumers’ expectations.
The monthly meeting was with new owners/operators to identify issues on power and the challenges being faced by the new owners.
He stressed that as the regulator, it had to keep abreast with the activities of the new power company owners.
He said the Commission, in collaboration with the CEOs, agreed to engage the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) in a bid to find a lasting solution to the problem of gas availability for power plants.
“We continue to encourage them to have better negotiation with the gas suppliers so that they can be provided with gas to run their plants,” he said.
The Commission declared that it was aware the challenges faced by the CEOs having inherited several problems.
He however, assured that the stakeholders in the Nigeria electricity supply industry (NESI) were committed to improvements, not only in the short run but for a sustainable long term.
He also conveyed a presidential directive on metering of all residential areas, government offices and buildings to resolve the backlog of outstanding payment.
He said government had approved the deduction at source of all payments due to distribution companies.
