Author(s): Jacob Otu Enyia, Iheanacho Linda Nnebuihe, Njong Cleverty Afu
This work appraises the legal and institutional framework for the protection of electricity consumer in Nigeria with a view of identifying the most veritable mechanism for enforcement that will effectively and efficiently address consumer’s rights infringement. Despite the legal and institutional framework for the protection of electricity consumer in Nigeria, consumers still suffer a lot of setbacks in relation to their rights. Where consumer rights are breached, they are not satisfactorily addressed by existing laws and regulatory agencies. Consumers who paid for prepaid meter suffer damages which may be social or economic. The inability of a consumer to revoke the contract of electricity carriage and entitle to immediate refund of full fare and damages in case of delay is a challenge. The objective of this thesis among others is to evaluate the legal and institutional framework for the protection of electricity consumer in Nigeria and to identify challenges of government implementation and enforcement of consumer rights. The research methodology adopted in this research work is basically doctrinal i.e., the use of Journals, articles, internet material, statutes, case laws, judicial authorities work from renounced authors etc. It is basically library use materials. The following findings among others were made; despite the legal and institutional for the protection of electricity consumer in Nigeria; consumer still suffers setbacks in relation to their rights. This work recommends among others as follows: there should be more awareness campaign by the consumer protection council of consumer rights and existing laws which can help victims to obtain compensation from manufacturer’s electricity industry. Consumer protection council should be encouraged to use various channels for information dissemination in enlightened consumers in electricity industry and government should encourage more private participation in the electricity sector to boost competition and discourage the monopolistic practices of the existing companies.