The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has taken decisive action against Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) for its failure to comply with the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order, the management said in a press release on Friday.
AEDC has been fined ₦200,000,000 for disregarding the prescribed customer band classifications in tariff billing, as stated in the press release signed by the NERC management.
NERC stated that following a thorough review and customer feedback, it was discovered that AEDC applied the new tariff uniformly across all customer bands, contrary to the order aimed at ensuring fair billing practices.
As part of the enforcement action, AEDC is mandated to:
1. Reimburse Affected Customers: Refund customers in Bands B, C, D, and E who were billed above the allowed tariff bands outlined in the Order.
2. Token Reimbursements: Provide the balance of customer tokens to affected customers at applicable rates by April 11, 2024.
3. Pay Fine: Settle the ₦200,000,000 fine for the blatant breach of the Commission’s order.
4. File Compliance Evidence: Submit evidence of compliance with the directives to NERC by April 12, 2024.
The action taken against AEDC reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and promoting fairness in the country’s electricity sector, the electricity regulatory body said.
News Central reported that NERC announced a 300 per cent hike in electricity tariff for Band A customers with 20 hours of power supply.
The decision sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians. Experts expressed concerns over a risk of exploitation if clear definitions and regulations are not established for the new tariff plan.