NERC fines Eko Disco, IBEDC, Ikeja Electric, others for overbilling customers

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has fined electricity distribution companies across the nation for overbilling their customers.

The fine is detailed in Order NERC/2024/114 published on NERC’s website on Friday.

NERC says it is part of its September 2024 Supplementary Order.

The order, signed by NERC Vice- Chairman, Mr Musiliu Oseni and Commissioner for Legal, Licensing, and Compliance, Mr Dafe Akpeneye, follows a comprehensive investigation into the distribution companies billing practices.

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

The Order said that the AEDC alone will pay N1.69 billion-fine, 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

According to the Order, 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.