Electricity Management And Consumers

The challenge electricity consumers face on a regular and sustained basis is not just the erratic flow of power but also the quality of consumables and the attitude of staff of those whose duty it is to make the process of accessing power seamless and without hassles.

Consumers worry that materials for electrical installations, cables, bulbs and others are of suspicious quality with unacceptable short lifespan.

It is not debatable that some of these consumables are imported without due consideration for their suitability in the Nigerian environment. And because of their affordability, not much thought is given to their quality.

In some cases, these materials can also become health hazards, cause fire accidents that can damage property. But that is not all.

Also, transformers which are supposed to be installed and maintained by government agencies have become the responsibility of consumers who are compelled to pay for the installation of new ones and are similarly saddled with the duty of fixing them when they are not functioning as they should.

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Perhaps out of desperation based on the need to have electricity, the hapless consumers are left with no option but to pay for the purchase of new transformers and maintain them when they go bad.

These were some of the issues raised at a recent interaction of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the media.

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For the record, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) is the agency of government established by NEMSA ACT 2015 and saddled with the responsibility to carry out the functions of enforcing of technical standards and regulations, technical inspection, testing and certification of all categories of electrical installations, electricity meters and instruments. This is to ensure the efficient production and delivery of safe, reliable and sustainable electricity power supply and guarantee safety of lives and property in the Nigerian electricity supply industry, other allied industries, workplaces and premises in Nigeria.

By this Act, NEMSA is the sole agency authorized by Law to carry out the enforcement of technical standard and regulation, inspection, testing and certification of all electrical installations in Nigeria.

Responding to these concerns, the agency stated that it was collaborating with the standards organization of Nigeria (SON) on the quality of electrical consumables.  

However, it claimed that its priority is to have electricity networks that are stable, safe, and reliable. To this extent, the agency strives to ensure zero incidences of electrical accidents, energy accountability, eliminate substandard electrical equipment and materials, and rid the system of quack electrical installation personnel contractors.

Furthermore, NEMSA has a service charter that outlines its core values, working days, hours, and services offered. From its point of view, the charter is flexible enough to give customers and or consumers recourse when services fail.

That is why the agency insists that consumers who pay for the installation and repair of transformers, for instance, are doing so illegally, albeit, out of frustration induced by the inconvenience of non-availability of power at a given time.

It insists that there are official procedures to follow when such situations arise to get official attention without patronizing touts or personnel who on their own take undue advantage of desperate consumers.

On the issue of meters, NEMSA disclosed that there are several certified electricity meters and instruments manufacturing and assembling companies in Nigeria. They specialize in providing a broad range of services in manufacturing, supply, import, export, installation assembly, electricity, and digital smart meters.

The agency advised consumers having problem with meters to check the meter’s serial number. The serial number on a genuine meter is unique and can be traced back to the manufacturer. If the serial number is missing or appears to have been tampered with, it could be a sign that the meter is fake.

Similarly, one should look for the manufacturer’s logo. A genuine meter will have the manufacturer’s logo printed on it. If the logo is missing or looks different from the manufacturer’s official logo, it could be a sign that the meter is fake.

Again, the consumer may want to check the meter’s packaging. A genuine meter will come in a sealed package with the manufacturer’s name and logo printed on it. If the packaging is damaged or does not have the manufacturer’s name and logo, it could be a sign that the meter is fake.

Of more interest to consumers is the accuracy of readings on the meter. The way to go about it is to check the meter’s accuracy. A genuine meter will be accurate and will have been tested by the manufacturer. If the meter is not accurate or has not been tested, it could be a sign that the meter is fake.

It is important to note that NEMSA has established meter test stations across the country as well as inspectorate field offices.

We commend the agency for the performance of its statutory functions especially the remodeling of inherited assets from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to bring them to appropriate efficiency levels. However, we expect the agency to intensify its activities as an enforcement agency.