FG Launches Power Outage Reporting App For Consumers

• Kazeem Badmus

In a bid to help consumers report electricity disruptions to distribution companies under monitoring by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Federal Government on Monday unveiled an application called the Power Outage Reporting System.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the application was unveiled at the Abuja headquarters of NERC, using the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company as a test-run DisCo.

Speaking at the event, NERC Chairman, Sanusi Garba, noted the commission would be able to effectively tackle power distributors that fail to address electricity disruptions reported by consumers through the application.

He said, “We recently launched a new regulation that provides timelines within which public utilities, especially DisCos, are required to resolve complaints from customers. So this particular app being unveiled today is to assist the commission in monitoring whether DisCos are complying with the standard set out in that regulation.

“Originally, the application was designed for crowd-sourcing data for the purpose of service-based tariffs. By crowd-sourcing, the application was to sample the quality of supply that customers are experiencing.

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“But the commission decided that it is better to put smart meters on all feeders so that we have 100 per cent live data or near real-time data to ensure that the DisCos are actually complying with the service obligations that are prescribed in the tariff orders.”

The NERC boss added that progress had been made in the smart metering of electricity feeders.

“So for this app, we are encouraging customers to go to the Apple Store or Google Play Store to download it. The app is to help customers report disruptions in supply in their areas,” he stated

He further explained that the application will enable power users who make complaints to be able to see the progress being made in resolving the issues, adding that the commission would also see this.

He continued, “We decided to start this launch in Abuja, and there will be a national roll-out for all distribution companies. But such a massive application would require test-running.

“So the AEDC today is like the guinea pig for the app, but we will quickly expedite the roll-out for other distribution companies.”