Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has sanctioned eight power distribution companies (DisCos) for failing to adhere to the capping of estimated bills for unmetered customers.
Gatekeepers News reports that the affected DisCos are Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola.
In a statement on Thursday, NERC said the companies overbilled customers in violation of energy caps set by the regulator for the third quarter of 2024 (July to September).
The commission noted that the sanctions were issued under Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act of 2023.
It said, “The public may recall that in 2020, the Commission issued the Order on Capping of Estimated Bills (Order No: NERC/197/2020) and subsequently issued monthly energy caps which aimed to align the estimated bills for unmetered customers with the measured consumption of metered customers on the same supply feeder.”
“A review of DisCos’ billing of unmetered customers for July – September 2024 (2024/Q3) revealed non-compliance with the monthly energy caps issued by the Commission.”
NERC fined the companies a total of N628.03 million, an amount representing 5 per cent of the naira value of the gross overbilling during the period under review.
It added that the DisCos have also been directed to issue commensurate credit adjustments to the affected customers by May 15, 2025, the end of the April 2025 billing cycle.
The regulator reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing regulatory compliance and protecting electricity consumers within Nigerian electricity supply industry (NESI).
