NERC slams heavy fines on Ikeja Electric, AEDC, Eko DisCo, 8 others for overbilling consumers, regulatory infractions

*The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission discloses the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company is fined N1.69 billion, Ikeja Electric N1.41 billion fine, while nine other electricity Distribution Companies are to pay different fines for overbilling electricity consumers, and non-compliance with previous regulatory directives between January and September 2023

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Following a comprehensive investigation into the electricity Distribution Companies’ (DisCos) billing practices, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has fined the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) a N1.69 billion fine, according to the power regulator’s recent publication.

ConsumerConnect reports the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and other electricity Distribution Companies are to pay different fines for overbilling power consumers in the country.

The fines are detailed in the Order NERC/2024/114, published Friday, September 13, 2024, on the corporate Web site of the power regulatory Commission.

In the Order Mr. Musiliu Oseni, Vice-Chairman of NERC, and Dafe Akpeneye, Commissioner for Legal, Licensing, and Compliance at the Commission signed, the regulatory noted that the report is part of its September 2024 Supplementary Order.

The AEDC alone, among all other affected DisCos, is to pay a N1.69 billion fine, stated NERC.

According to the Order, NERC disclosed it discovered that AEDC and other distribution companies overcharged customers between January and September 2023.

The commission said that the respective fines “represent 10 percent of the over billed amount”.

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

The Order said that the Benin Distribution Company (BEDC) was fined N804 million, Enugu Distribution Company (EEDC); N310 million, Eko Distribution Company (EKEDC); N1.41 billion, while Ibadan Distribution (IBEDC) was fined N15 million.

According to the Order, Ikeja Distribution Company (IKEDC) will pay N1.41 billion fine, Jos Distribution Company N1.33 billion, and Kaduna Distribution Company (KEDC) N115 million.

Others are Kano Distribution Company, N20 million, Port Harcourt Distribution Company (PHEDC), N1.16 billion, and Yola Distribution Company, N54 million respectively.

The NERC further stated that the penalty is the industry regulatory response to the Distribution Companies’ non-compliance with previous directives aimed at capping estimated billing for electricity consumers in Nigeria.