Expert seek pragmatic approach, tech approach to power challenges

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has stated that consumers will not pay for meters in the new guidelines, as it will be added to the electricity tariffs.

 

The Commissioner, Finance and Management Services, NERC, Nathan Shatti, also explained that customers, who had paid for meters would be compensated by a refund.

However, stakeholders in the sector have faulted this position, saying the government is not sincere in its dealing with the people, as there is no justification for the recent increase in electricity tariff.

 

They said the only way the increment could be justified is for the NERC to create a non-complex procedure that would allow consumers to sue distribution companies (DisCos) for negligence.

Specifically, Dr. Oladayo Olakanmi of the Department of Electrical/Electronics, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, called for a pragmatic and academic approach to solve the challenges in the power sector.  

Olakanmi urged the government to hinge recent development on the Internet of Things (IoT) for effective smart metering, saying that it would reduce the revenue collection overhead, energy theft by consumers, and unnecessary over and under-billing.