NERC fines Abuja DisCo, others for overbilling customers

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and other electricity distribution companies are to pay different fines for overbilling customers.

The AEDC alone will pay N1.69 billion fine, according to a publication of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The fine is detailed in the NERC Order published by the commission on Friday, September 13, 2024.

NERC said it was part of its September 2024 Supplementary Order.

The NERC said the order signed by its Vice Chairman, Musiliu Oseni, and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing, and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, followed a comprehensive investigation into AEDC’s billing practices.

According to the Order, NERC found out that AEDC and other distribution companies overcharged customers between January and September 2023.

The commission said the respective fines “represent 10 per cent of the over-billed amount”.

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It stated that AEDC’s annual operating expenditure would be reduced by N1.69 billion effective from September.

According to the order, the Benin Distribution Company was fined N804 million, Enugu Distribution Company, N310 million; Eko Distribution Company, N1.41 billion; while Ibadan Distribution was fined N15 million.

The Ikeja Distribution Company will pay N1.41 billion fine, Jos Distribution Company, N1.33 billion; and Kaduna Distribution Company, N115 million.

Others are Kano Distribution Company, N20 million; Port-Harcourt Distribution Company, N1.16 billion; and Yola Distribution Company, N54 million.

The NERC noted the penalty was a response to the distribution companies’ non-compliance with previous directives aimed at capping estimated billing for electricity consumers.

The Star