…Set to sanitise sector
By Ebenezer Ojor
The Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, ISERC, held its First Forum Session Wednesday last week, to resolve complaints from electricity consumers.
This is even as the commission has also assured of its preparedness to sanitise the electricity sector in the state.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ISERC, Engr Bede Opara while biefing newsmen in his office Wednesday last week, disclosed that Mr Nnamdi Gogo Okwuosa has been appointed ISERC Commissioner in charge of Consumer Affairs as part of the Imo commission’s commitment to resolving complaints from electricity consumers in the state.
Engr Opara revealed that the commission created by Governor Hope Uzodinma, was relatively new, adding that governor remained committed to ensuring that Imo people enjoyed steady power supply, as well as creating electricity market in the state.
He disclosed that Governor Uzodinma keyed into the amendment of the Electricity Act to create ISERC in a bid to establish electricity market in Imo as electricity is being liberalised in the country.
He emphasised that the role of the commission is purely regulatory, and that EEDC is the distribution company.
“The governor, His Excellency Dist Senator Hope Uzodinma remains fully committed to ensuring that Imo State enjoys regular power supply. He created this commission.
“He has worked so hard to ensure the realization of this project by entering into a memorandum of understanding MOU, with an Egyptian company to ensure speedy realisation of the project,” Engr Opara added.
He stated that ISERC created a Forum Office for Imo consumers to submit their complaints, noting that the commission has been engaging with the public. While about 18 complaints from electricity consumers in the state were being handled by the commission.
Opara also disclosed the forum gives electricity consumers the opportunity to voice their complaints wherever they are not satisfied. He disclosed that some of the complaints had lingered since some art of last year until full regulatory powers were transferred ISERC
On the procedure for electricity consumers to go about their complaints, Engr Opara explained that a consumer would first, take his complaint the electricity provider like EEDC, and that where he is not satisfied, the consumer would approach ISERC who would bring both the consumer and the electricity provider together for possible resolution of the matter, looking at the relevant laws in the sector.
He further explained that the commission has the power to sanction.
Speaking further, Opara said the forum members include lawyers, engineers, those from chambers of commerce, the academia, among others, who handle consumers complaints.
He said consumers were in ISERC office with different complaints even as 18 complaints according to the him, were scheduled to be handled on the same day.
The ISERC boss said the commission has been doing a lot since full regulatory powers were transferred to it.
He noted that electricity consumers were happy that their complaints were now being looked into.
The ISERC boss also reiterated that as a regulator, the commission has the powers to sanction both electricity distribution company and the consumers, where any of them was found wanting.
He urged electricity consumers to pay their bills for power that they consumed but added that EEDC has a responsibility to supply electricity to justify the bills they charge consumers.
