Fear Of NERC Hammer Forces Eko DisCo To Reverse Upgrade Of Customers To Band A  

Mobolaji Michael 

…Attributes Development To ‘Temporary Glitch’

IN a move that could be interpreted as an attempt at avoiding a similar fate that befell its counterpart in Abuja, Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo) Friday withdrew the classification of some electricity customers in service category Band A, resulting in their being charged the new tariff of N225 kilowatts per hour.

Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission Friday penalized the Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) for non-compliance with the Supplementary Order to the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for AEDC.

AEDC was fined Two Hundred Million Naira (₦200,000,000) for failure to comply with the prescribed customer band classifications for the tariff billing.

Eko DisCos which toed a similar line as AEDC has now retraced its step while attributing the action to a “temporary glitch”.

In a post on its social media platforms, Eko DisCos pointed out: “We are writing to inform you about a recent issue that may have affected your metre vending charges. 

“We identified that some customers were inadvertently classified in service category Band A, resulting in incorrect charges at the newly announced rate of N225. 

“This error occurred due to a temporary glitch in our back-end system. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

“We are currently working diligently with our IT partners to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. All affected customers will be reimbursed appropriately.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding. We are committed to providing you with accurate billing and a positive customer experience.”

Eighteen-Eleven Media however reports aside from the Two Hundred Million Naira (₦200,000,000) fine imposed on AEDC, the company was also mandated to:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Pay the sum of Two Hundred Million Naira (₦200,000,000.00)  as a fine for the flagrant breach of the Commission’s Order.
4. File evidence of compliance with the directives in A and C with the Commission by 12 April 2024.

NERC had on Wednesday given the go-ahead for an upward review of the electricity rates for customers in the Band A category.

During a press briefing in Abuja, the Vice Chairman of NERC, Musliu Oseni, announced that there will be a rise in electricity tariffs. This adjustment will result in customers paying N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the current rate of N66.

According to Oseni, under the new tariff, customers on Band ‘A’ who enjoy twenty hours of electricity supply daily will now pay 225 naira kilowatts per hour. He further said that customers in Band ‘A’ are fifteen percent of the total electricity customers in the country.

Customers on other bands are not affected by the new tariff, he stated. 

Eighteen-Eleven Media