By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The electricity distribution companies (DisCos) operating in Nigeria have been given till Thursday, April 11, 2024, to refund all their wrongly-billed customers at the new rate of N225 per kilowatts per hour (KwH) approved for Band A energy consumers having power supply of 20 to 24 hours per day.
On Wednesday, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved the upward review of the new tariff from N68 for premium electricity customers.
However, many of the 11 licenced energy distribution firms began to charge other categories of customers the new rates, sparking outrage across the country.
This forced NERC to fine the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) N200 million for the violation, as others quickly claimed the error was caused by a technical glitch, promising to make refunds.
In a statement on Saturday, April 6, 2024, the regulator frowned at the wrongful billing of electricity consumers, particular for those on Band B, C, D, and E, who are not affected by the new tariff hike.
It directed all the DisCos to make the refunds through energy tokens latest by next Thursday and they must “file evidence of compliance with the commission” by Friday, April 12, 2024.
The agency also ordered the energy companies to “provide as much clarity as possible to all affected customers,” and should “ensure that ONLY the newly approved Band A feeders listed in their April 2024 supplementary orders are maintained as Band A for the purpose of vending to prepaid customers and billing for post-paid customers on their networks.”
NERC further said all “DisCos are required to immediately post on their websites the schedule of approved Band A feeders that have been affected by the rate review.”
They were further asked to “set up a portal by Wednesday, April 10, 2024 on their website that allows all customers to check their current bands by entering their meter or account numbers.”
The regulator warned that it would “monitor compliance with the requirements listed above and shall continue to provide support to all stakeholders as required.”