From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has issued a N200million fine against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc, AEDC, for non-compliance with the Supplementary Order to the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for AEDC.
The fine is for failure to comply with the prescribed customer band classifications
for the tariff billing.
NERC said the decision follows a detailed review and customer feedback, which revealed that AEDC had applied the new tariff to all customer bands, contrary to the Order, which was designed to ensure fair billing practices.
For that reason, AEDC is therefore mandated to:
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. Pay the sum of ₦200,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) as a fine for
the flagrant breach of the Commission’s Order.
d. File evidence of compliance with the directives in a & c with the Commission
by 12 April 2024.
“The action by the Commission underscores its commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring equitable practices within Nigeria’s electricity sector,” said the Commission in a statement made available to THISAGE.
The regulatory body’s supplementary order had initially set out to adjust tariffs in a manner that would not unduly burden the vast majority of electricity consumers, particularly those not in Band A.
This remedial action is expected to be complied with immediately, therefore providing relief to thousands of consumers who were wrongfully overcharged.
Moreover, NERC’s directive requires AEDC to present evidence of compliance with these corrective measures by April 12, 2024, emphasising the urgency with which the regulatory body seeks to address and rectify the oversight.
Failure to meet these requirements could lead to further regulatory actions, underscoring the seriousness with which NERC is approaching this breach of regulatory compliance.
