To improve the quality of power supply services in Nigeria, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has released a new app that lets people all over the country report power outages and other problems to the authorities.
At the official launch of the Power Outage Reporting App in Abuja, the NERC chairman, Sanusi Garba, talked about how important it was to improve power supply. Garba said that the app was first made to test the quality of the power, but it has since become a powerful tool for tracking the performance of a disco in real-time.
“I’m sure most of you remember that we just put out a new consumer protection rule that tells public utilities, especially distribution companies (DisCos), how long they have to solve customer problems. This app, which we just released today, is meant to help the commission ensure that DisCos follow the rules in that law.
This change fits with NERC’s goal of protecting and satisfying customers. Garba told people to use the app and emphasised that quick replies would make people trust the commission and DisCos more.
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Abuja will test the Power Outage Reporting App
The app’s name wasn’t disclosed, but it will make power problems easier to report and help DisCos satisfy regulatory standards for handling consumer complaints.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) will test the app in Abuja. A nationwide rollout would cover all Nigerian distribution businesses. This step-by-step process allows for revisions and ensures the programme functions before widespread use.
Starting with Abuja was our decision. Garba claimed all distribution businesses would start nationally.” An extensive programme needs tests and so forth.
“AEDC is the app’s guinea pig, but we’ll swiftly roll out to other distribution businesses. Of course, DisCos with the most complaints will rank higher in the rollout.”
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) CEO Christopher Ezeafulukwe commended NERC for this collaboration. The programme makes it easier to communicate and make fact-based decisions, so it benefits everyone. Ezeafulukwe stressed that utility firms need user feedback to improve services and meet contractual obligations.
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What you should know about the app
The Power Outage Reporting App is made to be easy for people to use and work well. Aisha Mahmud, the NERC commissioner of consumer affairs, says that information was gathered about the number of hours customers on each service band were supplied with power. This was done to protect users.
“It uses more than one way to reach people. We talked to the various distribution companies and got a lot of information about their users. So, if you’re a customer of a DisCo and you get your supplies from the DisCo, your information is already in that app,” she says.
She explained how the app works and said that people could easily download it from the Apple or Google stores and only need their meter number to sign up.
When you use the app to report a power outage, it sends a request for proof to other customers on the same feeder to ensure the problem is real. Once the app gets multiple reports, it tells the DisCo responsible for fixing the problem within a particular time.
The app keeps customers updated on the progress of their complaints. This makes sure that the resolution process is open and fair.
