Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) has been fined by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for tariff violations that resulted in overcharging customers.
Gatekeepers News reports that the NERC issued a statement on Friday stating that the AEDC is to reimburse affected customers by April 11.
According to the AEDC, a system glitch had occurred which led to the overcharging of some Band A customers, who had already been downgraded to Band B due to the number of hours of electricity supply enjoyed over the past few weeks.
The customers were overcharged while trying to recharge their meters following the new tariff regime.
NERC, on April 3, approved the increase in electricity tariff for Band A customers. The commission said customers who receive 20 hours of electricity supply daily will pay a new rate of N225 per kilowatt (kW), starting from April 3 — up from N66.
The NERC said the decision to fine AEDC followed a detailed review and customer feedback, which revealed AEDC had applied the new tariff to all customer bands, contrary to the regulator’s directive, which was designed to ensure fair billing practices.
The regulator said AEDC is mandated to reimburse “all customers in Bands B, C, D and E respectively that were billed above the allowed customer categories/tariff bands provided in the Order”.
“Reimburse through the provision of the balance of customer tokens that the affected customers would be entitled to receive at the applicable rates and all token reimbursements shall be issued to the affected customers by 11 April 2024.
“Pay the sum of ₦200,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) as a fine for the flagrant breach of the Commission’s Order.
“File evidence of compliance with the directives in a & c with the Commission by 12 April 2024.”
NERC said the fine underscores its commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring equitable practices within Nigeria’s electricity sector.
