FG fines 8 DisCos N628m for overbilling unmetered customers
FG fines 8 DisCos N628m for overbilling unmetered customers
FG fines 8 DisCos N628m for overbilling unmetered customers
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has fined Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola Electricity Distribution Companies the sum of N628.03 million for non-compliance with the capping of estimated billing for unmetered customers.
The commission conveyed the sanction in a release on Thursday.
It explained that the action was a sequel to a review of billing practices between July and September 2024, which revealed that the affected DisCos failed to adhere to monthly energy caps issued by NERC.
The commission said the sanctions were issued pursuant to Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act of 2023.
“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,” NERC said.
“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.”
As a result, NERC said the companies were fined a total of N628.03 million — an amount representing 5 percent of “the naira value of the gross overbilling during the period under review”.
The regulator said the DisCos have also been directed to issue “commensurate credit adjustments” to the affected customers by than May 15, 2025 — the end of the April 2025 billing cycle.
The NERC reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing regulatory compliance and protecting electricity consumers within the Nigerian electricity supply industry (NESI).
