Category: Nigerian Tribune

Nigerian comedian and actor Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY, has jokingly asked, ‘When our own juju go upgrade?’ after taking a driverless Uber ride in Atlanta, United States, and seeing the car move without a human driver.

AY shared a video of the experience on his official Instagram account on Sunday, showing himself inside the vehicle as it drove without a human driver.

While reacting to the technology, the comedian compared it with what he described as some of the practices associated with Africa, asking when the continent’s own ‘juju’ would advance.

He wrote, ‘I entered Uber in Atlanta… na Jaguar, but driver no dey!, Oyibo don use technology make motor drive itself. Meanwhile, for Africa, our jazz na to dey turn people into yam. When our own juju go upgrade? See you guys at #enish_restaurant tonight in Houston.’

In the video, AY could be seen using his phone to unlock the vehicle and begin the ride. He then expressed amazement as the car moved without anyone behind the wheel.

He said, ‘When oyinbo dey tell una say dem no be una mate, Una go dey follow him argue follow them, they argue.’

The comedian went on to point out that the vehicle was driving itself and linked the development to his earlier comments about technology and traditional practices in Africa.

‘See, na the car dey drive himself. Na my uber be this. E dey carry me they go. Dem don tell una say dem no be una mate una no wan hear word una go dey do juju. They do different things, they kill people for Africa. I don’t want juju, that will kill people.’

AY also explained how he started the ride using his phone and noted that he was travelling alone without a driver.

He said, ‘I unlocked the car with my phone. Start the ride with my phone. And here we go. On my birthday. So we’re arriving in four minutes, basically. All by myself. No driver. Arriving in four minutes.’

THE growing use of dollar-denominated loans by Nigerian companies earning revenues largely in naira is emerging as a major threat to shareholder value, as currency depreciation can wipe out otherwise strong operating performances, a new report by Chapel Hill Denham, has warned.

The investment research firm said the biggest risk facing investors in Nigerian, and other frontier-market equities may not necessarily be poor management, weak corporate governance or sluggish economic growth, but the currency in which companies finance their operations.

According to the report, companies that generate predominantly naira revenues should finance their assets with naira equity and naira debt, rather than dollar-denominated parent-company or related-party loans.

It said such a balance-sheet structure provides a natural hedge against currency depreciation, while foreign-currency debt creates a mismatch that can turn a sharp fall in the domestic currency into a major loss for shareholders.

The report noted that exchange-rate depreciation is broadly predictable over long periods, even though the timing and scale of individual devaluations remain difficult to forecast.

Chapel Hill Denham examined exchange-rate and inflation data for nine major African economies and India between 1990 and 2025.

It found that annual currency movements remained difficult to predict, with inflation differentials accounting for only 14.6 percent of year-to-year exchange-rate movements.

Over longer periods, however, the relationship became considerably stronger. The study found that long-run inflation differentials with the United States explained 98.3 percent of currency levels across the 10-country sample.

The pass-through coefficient was 0.962, close to the one-for-one relationship expected under purchasing-power parity.

Nigeria was among the countries with the strongest long-term relationship, suggesting that the naira’s long-run trajectory has broadly reflected the country’s inflation differential with the United States despite sudden and difficult-to-time devaluations.

For foreign investors, the report said, this creates a high return hurdle when investing in naira assets without currency hedging.

Chapel Hill Denham estimated that where purchasing-power-parity depreciation is about 15 percent annually, as it approximates for Nigeria, an investment would need to generate more than 30 percent annual growth in naira terms to deliver a 15 percent annual return in US dollars.

By comparison, markets with annual currency depreciation of about 3.5 percent would require local-currency returns of about 18.5 percent to achieve the same 15 percent dollar return.

Kenya and Morocco, with depreciation of about seven percent, would require about 22 percent local-currency growth, while Angola and Ethiopia, with depreciation of roughly 25 percent, would require about 40 percent.

The research said investors buying naira-denominated assets with unhedged dollar capital are therefore exposed not only to market volatility but also to a compounding currency translation loss that could overwhelm operating gains.

Nigeria-India contrast

The impact of foreign-currency borrowing was highlighted through a comparison of listed subsidiaries of Unilever and Nestlé in India, Nigeria, Indonesia and Malaysia.

According to the report, Indian subsidiaries, which were largely funded through internally generated cash and local-currency debt, significantly outperformed their global parents in dollar terms.

Nigeria produced the opposite outcome.

Nestlé Nigeria and Unilever Nigeria recorded comparatively strong operating performances in naira terms, but their dollar returns were weakened by naira depreciation and exposure to dollar-denominated related-party and shareholder loans.

Over a 22-year period, Nestlé Nigeria generated an annualised naira return of 14.9 percent, higher than the 13.6 percent recorded by Hindustan Unilever in rupees.

However, Nestlé Nigeria’s annualised return in dollar terms was only 3.4 percent, compared with 9.9 percent for Hindustan Unilever.

The difference, the research argued, was not simply a reflection of management quality or business performance.

While the Indian subsidiary carried little or no foreign-currency debt, the Nigerian companies had substantial dollar-denominated related-party financing.

When the naira depreciated sharply in 2023 and 2024, the naira value of those liabilities increased dramatically, putting pressure on shareholders’ equity.

Nestlé Nigeria, for instance, recorded a foreign-exchange loss of £290.7 billion in 2024, temporarily pushing its reported equity into negative territory, the report stated.

Investors urged to look beyond earnings

Chapel Hill Denham said the experience demonstrates that strong earnings growth, powerful brands and good corporate governance do not necessarily shield shareholders from currency mismatches.

It advised investors to pay particular attention to companies’ debt notes and related-party financing arrangements when assessing Nigerian equities.

The report also noted that Nigerian equities remain relatively cheap compared with major global markets.

It estimated that the broad Nigerian equity market was trading at about eight to 11 times forward earnings, while the MSCI Nigeria Index traded at 7.75 times trailing earnings at the end of July.

This compares with roughly 20 to 23 times forward earnings for the SandP 500.

The research firm said the opportunity in Nigerian equities, therefore, is not simply about buying assets because they appear cheap.

Rather, investors need to identify companies whose balance sheets are structured in a way that allows their local operating growth to survive the impact of naira depreciation when translated into dollar returns.

The report’s central message is that the quality of a company’s earnings cannot be separated from the currency structure of its balance sheet. For Nigerian companies earning mainly in naira, dollar debt can transform currency depreciation from a macroeconomic challenge into a direct destruction of shareholder value.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has joined other major opposition political parties at a high-level summit in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and build a formidable political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The NDC delegation, led by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, included other senior party officials who participated in the summit held on Monday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

The summit was convened by the G-100 and supported by the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives. It brought together representatives of several opposition parties, including the NDC, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Peoples Movement (APM) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Discussions at the meeting centred on the need for deeper cooperation among opposition parties and the possibility of creating a united political front capable of mounting a strong challenge to the ruling party in the 2027 elections.

One of the major proposals that emerged from the summit was the development of a framework for producing a common opposition presidential candidate.

The organisers proposed that the framework should be developed within four weeks, while standing committees and working groups would be established to coordinate the coalition-building process.

The proposed structures are also expected to work on a transition programme and explore mechanisms for arriving at a common presidential candidate acceptable to participating opposition parties.

For the NDC, its participation in the summit demonstrates the party’s willingness to engage in broad consultations on the future of opposition politics and the search for a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, the organisers clarified that the gathering was not convened to dissolve or merge the participating political parties.

They also stressed that no presidential candidate had been asked to withdraw from the 2027 race as a condition for participating in the opposition discussions.

The summit is expected to form part of wider consultations among opposition parties and political stakeholders as efforts intensify to develop a common strategy and strengthen cooperation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has commended the people of the Kano South Senatorial District for endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and declaring their support for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Governor Yusuf gave the commendation at the Coronation Hall, Kano, while addressing a gathering organized by Murayar Kano ta Kudu, where Senator Kawu Sumaila presented an account of his stewardship and outlined projects and interventions facilitated for constituents during his tenure in the Senate.

In a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, the governor described the gathering and the position expressed by the people of Kano South as a demonstration of political maturity, unity, and commitment to the development of the senatorial district and Kano State.

He said the event had demonstrated that the people of Kano South were united in pursuing common political and developmental objectives.

Governor Yusuf assured the gathering that the people of Kano State would massively support the APC in the 2027 elections, while urging residents of the senatorial district to sustain the unity and political momentum demonstrated at the event.

He stressed that continued unity, cooperation, and collective action were essential to achieving the political aspirations and developmental objectives of the people of Kano South and the state at large.

The governor also commended Senator Kawu Sumaila for presenting what he described as a comprehensive account of his legislative stewardship and highlighting projects and interventions undertaken for the benefit of his constituents.

Governor Yusuf urged the people of Kano South to maintain the spirit of unity and cooperation, assuring them that their collective efforts would contribute significantly to advancing their political and developmental aspirations.

The Ekiti State Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Musa Arogundade, has dismissed reports that he has resigned his position, saying he remains the recognised chairman of the party in the state.

Arogundade described the report as a rumour, stressing that he was duly appointed by the leaders and stakeholders of the party in May 2026.

While addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, the NDC chairman said there was no crisis in the state chapter, adding that he and other members of the state executive were working with the party’s leaders to strengthen the organisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘I want to debunk the rumour circulating in the media that I, Hon. Musa Arogundade, resigned my appointment as the State Chairman of NDC in Ekiti State.

‘I was duly appointed by the leaders and stakeholders of the party in May this year. There is no issue between me and the leaders of the party. The leadership, the state executive members and I are working together for the progress of the party,’ he said.

Arogundade also explained that any decision by him to resign would be formally communicated to the national leadership of the party, rather than to individuals within the organisation.

‘If I want to resign, I will send my resignation letter to the national body of the party because I was inaugurated at the national secretariat during the last NEC meeting.

‘So, if I want to resign, I will put my signature and submit it to the national body of the party, not to an individual in the party,’ he stated.

The chairman expressed optimism that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would emerge victorious in the 2027 general elections, urging members to remain united and committed to the party’s success.

‘Our presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, will emerge victorious as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We will work collectively to ensure success for all our candidates at the national and state levels,’ he said.

Human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi has said social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has effectively replaced the judiciary as the hope of the common man in Nigeria.

Farotimi made the remark while reacting to the controversy over VeryDarkMan’s invitation to the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.

In a video uploaded on YouTube on Saturday, the activist argued that VeryDarkMan’s growing influence was a reflection of Nigerians’ declining confidence in the country’s justice system.

Farotimi said the emergence of individuals who take on roles associated with exposing wrongdoing and seeking redress would be unlikely in a society where the police and courts function effectively.

‘A society that has law and order, that is ruled by law, that has a functional police system, a functional court system, would not even tolerate the presence or existence of a VDM. VDM is the life indictment of a judicial system that is essentially peopled by crooks in the place of jurists. That’s what VDM is.

‘It represents a type, a type that has been tolerated, mollified because of the failure of the system.’

He described VeryDarkMan as a reflection of the wider problems within Nigerian society, arguing that criticism of the activist would not address the institutional failures that had contributed to his popularity.

‘The reality is that you are the one who has to do something to fix the image in the mirror. VDM is merely the image in your mirror. The society you have built requires VDM to find justice.

‘It’s easier to find justice through the types and likes of VDM than through your courts. They say the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. Nah, lie.

‘VDM has become the last hope of the common man in the society that you built. Shame on all of you. And not just the lawyers or the judges, but the entire society that has made this possible.’

Farotimi further warned that the situation could produce more figures operating outside traditional institutions if the underlying grievances remained unresolved.

‘The society you built requires VDM to do justice. Very soon there will be multiplicities of VDM in the society that you have built. And if you have not noticed, there are already copycat VDMs springing up.

‘Because the society requires VDM to find justice. How much of a shameful society have we built? Or shall I say shameless society?’

According to him, the development should be viewed as an indication that Nigeria’s institutions were failing to meet the expectations of citizens.

‘If the courts are useless, the VDMs of this world will emerge. And if you think VDM is the end of it, that’s the best you’re going to get. The ones who will come after, some of them will come behind him and they will carry guns to enforce their laws.’

He urged Nigerians to look beyond VeryDarkMan and confront the institutional weaknesses that had created the conditions for alternative sources of justice to gain public acceptance.

‘The reality of the matter is that, look very well in that mirror. Look well in the mirror that is being held up for you. If you have built a society where the truth has become an offense, it is because the law does not rule that society.

‘In societies where the law rules, the truth is protected almost at any and all cost.’

Farotimi also said meaningful reform of the judiciary could not depend on the removal or death of individual figures, but would require collective efforts to address systemic problems.

‘I wrote a book. It wasn’t about Afe Babaola. My book was about the judicial, is about the judiciary. No matter how corrupt you might deem a single person, human beings are necessarily mortals. You don’t die one day.

‘Would the death of anybody end the corruption and put refraction into the judiciary or society? No. It would take the collective determined to change our sickling reality to ever change it, if they will.’

‘Would the death of anybody end the corruption and put refraction into the judiciary or society? No. It would take the collective determined to change our sickling reality to ever change it, if they will.’

He said the controversy surrounding VeryDarkMan’s invitation should instead prompt questions about why Nigerians increasingly perceive individuals such as the activist as more capable of securing justice than formal institutions.

‘But the reality is that this is what Nigeria has become. If you are going to be bemoaning his invitation, ask yourself what led us to get to the point where we built a society, where justice is better assured with a VDM than your court.

‘It didn’t happen overnight.

‘It didn’t happen by accident. We didn’t stumble into this. We allowed it.’

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to pray for politicians to stop stealing public funds, saying politicians remain the major problem confronting the country.

Obi made the remarks during Sunday’s worship service at Koinonia Global, where he was acknowledged by the founder of Eternity Network International, Apostle Joshua Selman.

Selman invited Obi, who was in the congregation, to share a few words with worshippers.

Surprised by the recognition, Obi said he was unsure of what to say but urged the congregation to pray for the country’s political leaders.

‘I don’t know what to say, but people are here for different reasons.

‘We are all here for prayers, but pray for us politicians to stop stealing,’ Obi said during the service, which was broadcast live on YouTube.

The former Anambra governor maintained that politicians were responsible for many of the challenges facing Nigeria, insisting that there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the country itself.

‘Politicians are the problem of the country. There is nothing wrong with the country, but the politicians are the issue,’ he said.

Obi further appealed to Nigerians not to distinguish between politicians based on political affiliations or perceived performance, but to pray for all political leaders.

‘Pray for us politicians. Let God touch us to cease stealing. Do not say one is good and another is bad. We (politicians) are the problem of the country,’ he added.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s development compared with other countries that gained independence around the same period, Obi urged Nigerians to read the book, ‘Growing Apart’, saying he had seen how other nations had developed by doing things differently.

‘I’ve seen things work in other countries. People should refrain from embezzling public funds. If we do the right thing, things will improve,’ Obi concluded.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports circulating online that it is currently recruiting and training ad hoc staff for the 2027 General Election.

In a statement on its verified social media handle, the Commission described the claim and the link being shared as fake.

‘The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a message circulating online claiming that the Commission is currently recruiting and training ad hoc staff for the 2027 General Election and directing applicants to: (gvly.xyz/INEC-Ad-hoc-St…),’ INEC said.

‘THIS INFORMATION IS NOT FROM INEC. The website/link being circulated is NOT an official INEC recruitment portal.

The Commission warned members of the public not to click on the link, submit personal details, upload documents or make any payment on the platform.

‘Members of the public are strongly advised NOT to click on the link, submit personal information, upload documents or make any payment through the platform,’ it stated.

INEC said all official recruitment and election-related announcements are published only through its verified communication channels and website, inecnigeria.org.

‘The Commission has previously warned the public about fraudulent websites and fake recruitment advertisements purporting to originate from INEC,’ the statement added.

‘Please disregard and do not circulate this false recruitment notice. Stay informed. Stay safe. Always verify before you click. #StopFakeNews’

A clinical oncologist, Dr Omolola Salako, has expressed concern over the increasing number of young Nigerians being diagnosed with cancer, noting that people between 18 and 39 are presenting with forms of the disease that can be difficult to predict.

Salako, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Pearl Oncology Specialist Hospital, raised the concern during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Sunday.

She said the growing incidence of cancer among young adults was particularly worrying because many of them are below the age bracket at which routine cancer screening is usually recommended.

‘And for young cancers, that’s another thing we’re seeing in oncology, there are young people between the ages of 18 and 39 that are developing cancers and these cancers are unpredictable, too young to recommend cancer screening in the first place,’ she said.

According to the oncologist, the delayed consideration of cancer in younger patients often means that some do not seek medical attention until the disease has progressed.

‘And with the younger adults, they tend to present, you know, late because that’s the last thing on a 20-something years old mind,’ Salako stated.

Salako identified tobacco use as one of the major risk factors for cancer, warning that exposure is not limited to people who smoke directly.

She explained that tobacco contains thousands of chemicals capable of initiating cancer.

‘Smoking contains tobacco. And in tobacco, there are more than 3,000 chemicals that are known to trigger cancer or start cancer,’ she said.

The specialist added that people who spend time around smokers could also be exposed to harmful substances.

‘Whether you’re smoking it or you’re leaving or hanging around the person who’s smoking, all of that are risk factors,’ she said.

She urged Nigerians to take cancer prevention seriously by making use of healthcare facilities for preventive services and early detection.

Salako said vaccination against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus, alongside appropriate screening, could help reduce the burden of cancer among Nigerians.

‘And 40% of cancers are preventable. So it’s important women and men are presented at the primary care health care levels to get screened, get vaccinated against hepatitis B virus, human papillomavirus,’ she stated.

The oncologist also identified a strong family history of cancer as an important warning sign.

She advised individuals who have had several family members diagnosed with cancer to consult specialists and undergo appropriate genetic assessments.

‘Another challenge I must highlight are those with a strong family history of cancer,’ Salako said.

She explained that genetic testing and other specialist assessments could help identify people at higher risk and facilitate early detection.

‘When there’s a strong family history, you should see a specialist, you should do some genetic tests and there are some drugs and tests that can be done to detect the cancers when they are at stage zero, pre-cancers, when they are microscopic,’ she said.

Salako further identified several health and lifestyle factors that could contribute to cancer risk, including kidney disease progressing to renal failure, uncontrolled hypertension and micronutrient deficiency.

She also cautioned against viewing electronic cigarettes as a completely safe alternative to conventional tobacco products.

According to her, heavy and prolonged alcohol consumption can place stress on the liver, cause chronic inflammation and contribute to some forms of cancer.

She also warned about prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, particularly among fair-skinned people and individuals with albinism, who have lower levels of melanin.

The oncologist explained that reduced protection from ultraviolet radiation could lead to skin damage, including repeated sunburn.

She stressed that chronic inflammation was a common pathway through which several risk factors could contribute to cancer development.

‘At the end of the day, almost everything leads to inflammation,’ Salako said.

She explained that repeated damage to body cells could eventually create conditions that allow cancer to develop.

‘The problem with cancer is, it just takes one arrow in one cell and finds a way to hide. And that’s how cancer can develop,’ she stated.

A household may use less electricity during a difficult month and still receive a bill that seems disconnected from what it actually consumed.

Meanwhile, if that happens frequently, the sensible response is not to argue at the payment counter or pay an unofficial ‘metering agent.’ The better route is to use the regulatory process.

The phrase secure prepaid meter NERC guidelines is therefore about more than getting a device installed.

It is about understanding your rights, applying through the proper channel, challenging an improper estimate and keeping evidence until the dispute is resolved.

What estimated billing means

An unmetered customer is not supposed to be billed according to whatever figure a Distribution Company (DisCo) chooses.

NERC says unmetered customers must be billed according to its approved estimated-billing methodology, while its Customer Protection Regulations require a DisCo to calculate consumption using a method approved by the Commission.

NERC also operates an energy-cap framework intended to prevent unmetered customers from being billed above applicable limits.

That does not mean every estimated bill is automatically correct. It means there is a regulatory framework against arbitrary billing. A customer who believes an estimate is excessive has the right to challenge it.

NERC’s consumer-rights guidance states that customers have the right to transparent billing, a properly installed and functional meter, and the right to contest an electricity bill.

It also states that an unmetered customer disputing an estimated bill may withhold the disputed bill while paying the last undisputed bill during the dispute-resolution process.

Start with your DisCo

The safest way to pursue a prepaid meter is through the electricity distribution company serving your premises and the official metering channels it recognises.

Avoid anyone who appears at your gate promising a ‘special connection’ or asking for money into a personal account.

NERC’s Metering FAQ explains that customers can obtain meters through their DisCo’s approved rollout or, where rollout is unacceptably long, through the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework.

Under that arrangement, customers may pay upfront for a meter and receive reimbursement through energy credits under the applicable regulatory framework.

NERC directs customers to their DisCo’s website for the specific application and payment procedure.

This distinction matters because a genuine metering process should leave a trace: an application, official payment record, customer details and an identifiable provider. If someone cannot explain which authorised channel they represent, do not hand over money simply because they promise faster installation.

Use the meter route when estimated bills become unreasonable

A prepaid meter changes the billing relationship because the customer buys electricity credit in advance rather than receiving a monthly estimate. But obtaining one is not a license to bypass the DisCo’s procedures.

If you have been waiting for a meter, document your account number, supply address, recent bills and previous requests for metering.

Keep screenshots, receipts and correspondence. This evidence becomes valuable if the application stalls or a dispute develops.

NERC’s Metering Code, third edition, published in March 2026, defines a prepaid meter as a meter that requires the customer to pay for consumption in advance before using electricity from the network. The Code forms part of the technical framework governing metering in Nigeria’s electricity supply industry.

What to do if your existing meter is faulty

This is an important distinction because a customer should not automatically be pushed back into ordinary estimated billing simply because a meter has stopped working.

NERC’s billing FAQ states that when a faulty or obsolete meter is removed, the DisCo is required to install a replacement meter and should not place the customer on estimated billing because of its own failure to replace it.

Where a replacement cannot be provided within a billing period, NERC says an average based on the customer’s previous three months’ billing or vending may be used for determining consumption.

That gives customers a practical reason to report meter faults immediately and keep the complaint reference.

If a DisCo removes a meter and then begins issuing unexplained estimates, the customer has a documented basis for challenging the treatment.

Challenge an inflated bill properly

Do not rely on verbal complaints alone. Write to the DisCo’s Customer Complaints Unit and clearly identify the disputed bill, the amount, the period covered and why you believe it is incorrect. Attach previous bills, meter photographs, payment records and relevant communication.

NERC’s Customer Protection Regulations provide that a DisCo must review a customer’s bill when requested.

During the review, the customer is generally required to pay an amount based on the average bills at the premises over the preceding 12 months, or the available period if the customer has occupied the premises for less than a year.

If the review establishes that the bill is wrong, the DisCo is required to amend it. Where an overcharge is identified, the regulations provide for the amount to be credited to the customer’s next bill.

This is different from simply refusing to pay everything. A formal dispute creates a record and keeps the matter within the regulatory process.

Escalate when the complaint goes nowhere

The complaint process has stages. NERC says the first point of contact is the DisCo’s Customer Complaints Unit. If the complaint is not satisfactorily handled or there is unreasonable delay, the customer can escalate to the relevant NERC Consumer Forum and, where applicable, appeal further to the Commission.

For consumers, complaints about disputed bills, metering delays and related DisCo issues should now go to the relevant state electricity regulator rather than NERC as the primary complaint channel.

That means consumers should confirm which regulator has jurisdiction over their electricity market before escalating. The applicable regulator may depend on the state and the DisCo serving the premises.

Be careful with outstanding electricity debt

An old electricity debt can complicate disputes, particularly when moving into a property previously occupied by another customer.

NERC advises new occupants to establish the property’s billing status and notify the DisCo in writing if an outstanding bill belongs to a former tenant.

Do not casually accept responsibility for another customer’s consumption. Put the issue on record when you move in and retain evidence showing the date your tenancy began.

The same discipline should apply when seeking a meter. If someone tells you that you must pay an unofficial fee or settle an unexplained debt before you can apply, request the requirement in writing and verify it through the DisCo or regulator.

Never tamper with a meter to escape estimated billing

An expensive estimated bill can make illegal shortcuts look tempting, but bypassing a meter, interfering with electrical installations or allowing unauthorized alterations can create both safety and regulatory problems.

NERC’s consumer guidance makes clear that customers must not tamper with or bypass electricity installations and must protect metering equipment belonging to the DisCo.

A disputed bill should therefore be challenged through the complaint process rather than through physical interference with the supply system.

Turn frustration into a documented case

The strongest consumer is not necessarily the one who argues the loudest. It is the one who keeps records.

Save every bill, payment receipt, meter photograph, complaint reference, email and official response. When contacting the DisCo, state exactly what you want: a meter, a bill review, correction of an overcharge, clarification of an estimate or escalation of an unresolved complaint.

A clear paper trail makes it much harder for a complaint to disappear into a series of informal conversations. It also gives the next level of the complaint process something concrete to investigate.

A prepaid meter is not a shortcut around the rules

Getting away from estimated billing is a legitimate goal, but the safest route is an official one. Understand the applicable NERC rules, apply through the authorized metering channel, keep proof of payment and challenge questionable bills through the established complaint mechanism.

The secure prepaid meter NERC guidelines approach is ultimately about replacing frustration with procedure.

You do not need to accept an unexplained estimate simply because it appears on your bill, and you should not pay an unofficial intermediary because someone promises to ‘fix’ your meter faster.

Use the regulator’s framework, document every step and escalate when the first level of complaint does not resolve the problem. That is how an electricity consumer protects both their money and their right to transparent billing.