24 Rights of Electricity Consumer Rights in Nigeria

         Right to be connected for the supply of electricity at an existing supply address: Subject to the submission of an application and identification, acceptance of supply conditions and the payment of a connection charge, every person in Nigeria has the right to be connected for the supply of electricity at his or her address not later than 48 hours after such an application is made for a hitherto connected address.

2  Right to be connected for the supply of electricity at a new supply address: Subject to the submission of an application and identification, acceptance of supply conditions, compliance with NERC electrical installation standards and the payment of a connection charge, every person in Nigeria has the right to be connected for the supply of electricity and supplied with a meter at a hitherto unconnected address within 10 working days.

3  Right to be issued with a reconnection bill: An electricity consumer at an existing supply address is entitled to be informed of the cost of reconnecting electricity supply within 3 working days of request where reconnection is subject of standard pricing and in other cases 5 working days.

4  Right to have electricity bill issued in own name: A consumer who has been connected by the distribution company for the supply of electricity following his or her application has a right to be issued with electricity bills made out in his or her name except otherwise agreed.

5  Right to disconnection notice: An electricity consumer’s supply address can only be disconnected by the delivery of a written warning that supply will be disconnected if payment is not made by the payment date and the warning must state the date of its delivery to the supply address as well as phone number and address of person through which payment assistance may be sought.

6  Right to notice after disconnection: An electricity consumer is entitled to a written notice of disconnection specifying the date and time of disconnection, reason for disconnection, steps to be taken for a reconnection and contact address and phone number of the Disco’s representative.

7      Right not to be disconnected for certain electricity consumers: Discos are prohibited from disconnecting certain electricity consumers that is consumers that paid the billed amount, entered into an arrangement with the Disco for payment, consumers  owing amounts less than the value of their monthly bill, consumers that have filed complaint against the billed amount and complaint remains unresolved and consumers that have applied for consumer assistance under programmes like the Power Consumer Assistance Fund (PCAF).

8       Right to be paid penalty for wrongful disconnection: An electricity consumer that has been wrongfully disconnected is entitled to paid compensation for each day of such disconnection ranging from =N=1000 for residential consumers to =N=2000 for special and industrial consumers.

9 Right to reconnection after payment: Electricity consumers are entitled to be reconnected for electricity supply if they were lawfully disconnected provided that the basis for such disconnection has been resolved be it by payment, arrangement for payment, rectification of illegal or dangerous connection, repositioning of meter for easy access or provision of required identification or security deposit.

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