By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ,NERC, has slammed a cumulative fine of over N628m on eight Electricity Distribution Companies ,DisCos, for violating the capped billing regulations for unmetered customers.
The affected DisCos include Abuja Electricity Distribution Company ,AEDC, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola.
They were found to have failed to fully comply with the Commission’s approved monthly energy caps between July and September 2024 ,Q3 2024.
AljazirahNigeria reports that NERC introduced the capping order in 2020 to protect unmetered consumers from arbitrary billing practices, a persistent source of complaints from electricity users across the country.
NERC, in a statement disclosed that the sanctions are in line with Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 2023.
The Commission said it discovered through its review that the DisCos had overbilled unmetered customers contrary to Order No: NERC/197/2020, which capped estimated bills based on average usage of metered customers on the same feeder.
According to the Commission, the total fine imposed represents five per cent of the naira value of the gross overbilling during the period under review.
In addition to the monetary sanction, NERC has directed the sanctioned DisCos to issue appropriate credit adjustments to all affected customers.
“The credits are to be reflected by May 15, 2025, marking the end of the April 2025 billing cycle.
“The Commission reaffirms its commitment to regulatory compliance and consumer protection within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry”, the statement added.
